This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Fire investigators were looking into what led up to a three-alarm blaze at a northwest Salt Lake City storage warehouse that sent one burned man to the hospital.
Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Jasen Asay said that smoke and flames were reported pouring from the multi-unit metal structure, 510 W. 200 N., at 8:33 p.m. Monday.
The fire began in a unit where three men were working on a car. The fire was determined to have been accidental, though its specific cause remained under investigation.
Once it began, however, the blaze quickly spread as it reached several 5-gallon, plastic gasoline containers.
The explosive nature of the flames, along with the potential for the fire spreading to adjacent storage units and nearby buildings, prompted a second and then a third alarm to be called.
All three men had escaped the fire when crews arrived, but one, a 34-year-old, was taken to hospital for treatment of second-degree burns on both arms.
Losses were estimated at $80,000, including the vehicle inside the unit. Firefighters were successful in keeping the flames from engulfing other units at the warehouse, though two units did suffer minor damage.
Hazardous materials workers labored through the night along with Salt Lake County Health Department personnel to clean up the mix of gasoline and water at the scene.
In all, 45 firefighters battled the flames. None of them was injured.
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