Ogden officials are moving quickly to strengthen fire safety enforcement after three major construction-related blazes in less than two weeks, including a destructive fire that leveled a 48-unit apartment complex on Aug. 8.

The recent wave of fires has heightened concerns about site security and safety protocols across the city. Since Aug. 3, three construction-related fires have caused widespread damage, adding to an earlier blaze on Jan. 25 that destroyed another apartment building under development.

“It’s kind of a hot topic in the city, and we just don’t want this to happen again,” Ogden Fire Chief Mike Slater said. “So we’re going to be hypervigilant to make sure that we do our part as a prevention division, the fire department, to make sure their sites are safe.”

To address the issue, the city has issued notices to 14 developers involved in large-scale residential and commercial projects, requiring them to reinforce safety measures at their job sites. While some precautions are already mandatory, Ogden leaders are demanding a higher level of compliance.

“We asked them to help us — fencing the property, securing that first floor to access, cameras, extinguishers in the buildings, noncombustibles, clean job sites,” Slater explained. “Some of the things they’re already doing; some of the things we’re asking (them) to step up and do to help prevent this from happening again.”

Enhanced Safety Rules

City officials said the new guidelines require developers to implement:

• Perimeter fencing and secured access points
• Surveillance systems and cameras
• On-site fire extinguishers
• Removal of combustible debris and regular site clean-ups
• Use of noncombustible materials where possible

Compliance will be monitored through both scheduled and unannounced inspections. “Noncompliance will result in stop-work orders and can lead to permit revocation and penalties,” the city announced in a Wednesday press release.

Ongoing Investigations

The investigation into the Aug. 8 blaze — which completely destroyed the nearly finished apartment complex at 18th Street — is still underway. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have been brought in to assist.

The ATF’s National Response Team, made up of roughly 20 specialists, is working with Ogden officials to examine the site. “They bring some expertise that can be a force multiplier for the chief and his crew,” said Brent Beavers, an ATF agent based in Denver.

Investigators are also still looking into the Aug. 3 townhome fire at West 12th Street and the Aug. 4 fire at a multiunit complex on 32nd Street that displaced 13 residents. So far, Chief Slater said the incidents do not appear to be connected. “It’s just coincidental that they all happen at the same time,” he said.

Repeat Developer Impacted

The Aug. 8 fire marks the second time in less than a year that a building by Lotus Co., a Salt Lake City–based developer, has been destroyed. The firm also lost an apartment project at 2186 Lincoln Ave. in a Jan. 25 blaze, which investigators later linked to arson. A 16-year-old Roy boy was arrested in that case, and reconstruction is currently underway.

These recent fires follow other incidents in 2021 and 2022, when apartment complexes under construction in Ogden were also destroyed, raising long-term concerns about the vulnerability of unfinished projects.

Citywide Prevention Efforts

Beyond construction sites, city leaders are expanding fire prevention measures to vacant lots and overgrown properties that present fire hazards. Officials say tall, dry weeds and debris can spread flames quickly, putting entire neighborhoods at risk.

“Tall, dry grasses aren’t just a code issue — they’re a community safety issue. If a neighbor needs help clearing weeds or debris, we need our community to step up and help each other,” Mayor Ben Nadolski said. “Fire prevention is a team effort, and it starts right on our own streets.”

As summer heat and drought conditions persist, Ogden officials say the city will continue its heightened vigilance. For developers, that means stricter compliance; for residents, it means helping keep properties free of fire hazards.

Originally reported by Tim Vandenack in MSN News.