A crew of more than 40 firefighters successfully doused a fire on the roof of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City late Wednesday, less than 30 minutes after the fire was reported.
Salt Lake City Fire Department Capt. Anthony Burton said the flames never entered the structure of the building at 15 East South Temple. No one was injured.
According to a statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the building: “The most likely cause of the fire is from combustible construction materials that ignited on their own.”
Damage to the building is considered minimal and the building will be operational Thursday.
Sister missionaries reported the fire at 7:18 p.m., and security crews at the building evacuated everyone safely.
Burton said that the classification of the fire as a two-alarm fire was crucial in putting out the blaze so quickly. Such classifications prompt more crews and trucks to respond. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
