HERRIMAN, Utah — Fire crews spent hours battling a blaze Monday afternoon at a six-story apartment complex under construction in Herriman, as windy conditions complicated containment efforts.
According to the Unified Fire Authority, the fire broke out at a large apartment building located at 4100 West College View Drive. The structure, still in the construction phase, had not yet been outfitted with a sprinkler system.
Officials said they received the initial emergency call around 1 p.m.
Kelly Bird with Unified Fire Authority told ABC4 that the situation proved challenging from the outset, particularly when it came to locating the source of the flames within the structure’s walls.
Bird said that there were not a lot of flames initially, which usually indicates that the flames are in the walls, but they’re still working to find it and fully extinguish it. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Fire officials believe the blaze may have started in the building’s heating system before spreading through lower levels and into multiple units.
“Wind always pushes fire. It adds oxygen to fire, it fuels it, makes it bigger and grow faster, pushes it into other burnable materials, but that’s not necessarily the case here. We obviously still have the building behind us. It didn’t burn up like we’ve seen other unfinished apartments, you know, in the last few months,” Bird said.
Despite the intensity in one unit, the entire building did not become fully engulfed — something officials described as fortunate given the structure’s unfinished condition.
However, Bird noted that the absence of fire suppression systems likely allowed the flames to spread further than they otherwise might have.
“Had it been, it probably could have self-extinguished for the most part,” Bird said.
By mid-afternoon, the fire was still burning but not “intensely,” Bird said. One floor in a unit reportedly collapsed, prompting crews to proceed cautiously as they worked to prevent further structural compromise.
The incident escalated to a four-alarm fire, drawing response units from multiple agencies across the Salt Lake Valley. In addition to Unified Fire crews, firefighters from Bluffdale, Draper, South Jordan, West Jordan, West Valley, and Sandy assisted at the scene.
The Herriman Police Department also deployed a thermal drone to detect heat signatures within the building, helping firefighters identify hidden hot spots and prevent flare-ups.
At 7 p.m., Unified Fire Authority confirmed via social media that the blaze began on a lower level before spreading upward. Construction workers were credited with making the initial emergency call.
Crews continued working into the evening to achieve full extinguishment.
Residents living near the construction site watched the situation unfold with concern, particularly given the gusty conditions.
Bonnie George, who lives at a nearby apartment complex just north of the site, said she first learned about the fire through social media while working from home.
“We’re less than a football field away, so we’re quite concerned that, especially on a windy day like today, we could have some cinders or things blow toward us,” she said. “There’s lots of grass, dry grass over there as well, and so, you know, everyone on our social media is kind of talking about it.”
George said she walked closer to observe the smoke but avoided interfering with emergency crews.
“It smells like a really big campfire,” she said.
She noted that the apartment complex has been under construction for several years, with smoke appearing to rise from the center portion of the structure.
No injuries have been reported, and authorities have not yet released an official cause. Fire investigators will assess damage and determine whether mechanical failure, electrical components, or other construction-related factors contributed to the blaze.
The incident highlights ongoing fire risks at large wood-frame apartment projects before permanent fire suppression systems are installed — particularly during windy winter conditions common along the Wasatch Front.
This remains a developing story, and updates are expected as crews complete extinguishment and investigators determine the cause.
Originally reported by Abigail Jones, Ava Hart in ABC 4.
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