This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A suspicious destroyed 10 vehicles, a carport and attached storage units at a West Valley City apartment complex early Tuesday.

West Valley Fire Department spokesman Bob Fitzgerald said the blaze at 3685 S. 2200 West was first reported at 12:08 a.m. Crews focused on preventing the flames from spreading to nearby units of the complex, and dousing flames fed by gasoline from the cars.

The scene continued to smolder at dawn, with steam and smoke drifting off the blackened vehicles and collapsed remains of the carport.

Fitzgerald said the cause of the fire was under investigation, but given its size and rapid spread initial indications pointed to the possibility of arson.

"It definitely is a suspicious fire we are looking at here," he said. "We're following up on leads, and trying to figure out which car went up first. ... We are fairly confident that one of these vehicles was intentionally set on fire."

Witnesses reported seeing an unfamiliar vehicle in the area shortly before the fire erupted, and Fitzgerald said that was one of the leads investigators were pursuing.

Fitzgerald said that in addition to heat and flames, this particular fire posed potential health risks to crews and residents due to the toxic nature of smoke from gasoline, plastics and electrical components as they burned.

One firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries after he slipped on ice and fell, but no one else was hurt, according to the West Valley City Fire Department.

Residents of two apartment buildings nearest to the flames had been initially evacuated, but were allowed to return within an hour.

Damage from the fire was estimated between $150,000 and $200,000.

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