Salt Lake City barbecue spot Blatch’s closed after Avenues fire injures chef

Chris Blatchford, owner and pitmaster for the vegan food place, was treated for second-degree burns and released from the hospital. His business lost much of its equipment.

(Francisco Kjolseth | Salt Lake Tribune file photo) Chris Blatchford, owner and pitmaster of Blatch's Vegan BBQ, in a 2022 photo. Blatchford passed out while working on Sept. 3, 2025, leading to a fire that destroyed much of the equipment in his Salt Lake City business.

Salt Lake City barbecue spot Blatch’s closed after Avenues fire injures chef

Chris Blatchford, owner and pitmaster for the vegan food place, was treated for second-degree burns and released from the hospital. His business lost much of its equipment.

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