Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 26, 2022) — American Red Cross of Utah Disaster Action Team staff and volunteers this morning continue to provide shelter, water and food to residents displaced by last night’s massive blaze in an under-construction building in the Sugar House neighborhood.
The Salt Lake City Fire Department responded to the blaze about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. More than 70 firefighters were called to the four-alarm fire of the unoccupied building, but about 200 residents in the surrounding area were evacuated as a precaution, fire officials said.
More than 75 of the displaced residents went to the evacuation shelter at the Forest Dale Golf Course in the early morning hours. Red Cross volunteers and staff aided those at the shelter. “The Red Cross is providing care and support for those in the evacuation shelter,” said Jeremiah Lafranca, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Greater Salt Lake Chapter. The evacuation site was changed Wednesday morning to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint stake building at 2005 South 900 East in Salt Lake City.
As of this morning, more than 45 people were still in the shelter waiting on word from fire officials they could return to their homes. The Red Cross will continue to provide support to those displace. “Red Cross volunteers give of their time to ensure that no one in Utah has to go through an emergency alone,” Lafranca said.
Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers and staff often respond to home fires, which can leave a family devastated and in need of immediate assistance – and are the nation’s most frequent disaster, Lafranca said. “Last year, Red Cross of Utah team members responded to 175 home fires and helped more than 500 Utahns, providing emotional support, access to financial assistance, and valuable information to help families begin to recover,” he said.
The massive blaze serves as a reminder that fire can happen anytime and anywhere, and everyone should have a two-minute home fire escape plan, as two minutes is the amount of time that fire experts say you have to safely escape a home fire before it could be too late. “Our staff and volunteers are also trained to provide preparedness education so families can know how to evacuate safely if a fire breaks out in their home,” Lafranca said.
Residents interested in fire prevention assistance can visit SoundTheAlarm.org/Utah to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation. During the 20-minute home visit, Red Cross volunteers and community partners will also share information on home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts, and how to create an escape plan.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.