NEWS

Fire at apartment construction site located at 255 22nd St. in Ogden on Saturday, Jan. 26. Photo by Nicolas Michael

An apartment structure under construction in Ogden burned to the ground Saturday. The Ogden City Fire Department contained the fire and protected surrounding buildings, including the DaVinci Academy of Science charter school. Thousands of residents and businesses in the downtown area were without power. 

The five-story building located at 255 22nd St was in the framing stage of construction. Fire Chief Mike Mathieu stated in a press conference Sunday that the cause is unknown, but an investigation will proceed once the fire’s origin has been established. Early indicators suggest the fire began somewhere on the interior. It will take heavy equipment to move debris to get to the suspected origin so they can investigate further, he said.

Mathieu stated that no one was on-site at approximately 4:35 p.m. when the fire was reported. According to the contractor, the framers had left around noon due to cold and windy conditions. 

“Sites are a hazard at this stage of development,” Chief Mathieu said. To help ensure safety, Fire Marshall Kevin Brown requires sites over four stories high to be secured. A six-foot chainlink fence was installed at this site. 

The Ogden Fire Department, located across the street from the site, responded immediately but quickly recognized the building could not be saved. The exterior lumber is fire-resistant but the interior is not. High winds also contributed to the rapid blaze. Firefighters then shifted their focus to protecting the surrounding buildings. DaVinci Academy and the IRS building one block west have minor damage. 

DaVinci Academy will be closed on Monday while exterior windows are replaced and roof conditions are inspected.

Rocky Mountain Power had to shut off a high-tension power line that posed a risk to firefighters. Fox13 reported that as of 10 p.m., Rocky Mountain Power's website said 2,750 customers in the area were without power.

Chamber Orchestra Ogden’s annual Red Dress concert at Peery’s Egyptian Theater and a performance of “As You Like It’ at the secondary Davinci Academy campus north of the Davinci elementary school were canceled. 

Several downtown businesses had to close for the night.

Mathieu urges the public to contact the fire department with any footage from the incident. Call 801-629-8069 and ask for Fire Marshall Kevin Brown or email: kevinbrown@ogdencity.com.