Fire-damaged building at Salt Lake Community College is a total loss
Fire officials say the Applied Technology building at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, Utah, is considered at total loss after a blaze swept through the facility earlier this week.
The Deseret News reports that damage to the 39,000-square-foot building and its contents has been estimated at $14 million.
No one was injured in the fire, which was reported at about 5:20 p.m. Monday.
[EARLIER: Fire damages building at Salt Lake Community College]
Most of the building was undergoing remodeling at the time, fire officials say. Because of that, the majority of the building was vacant and many walls were torn down, which enabled the fire to spread more rapidly.
A cause of the fire has not been determined. Officials say it may still be a day before investigators can sift through the rubble and begin their work.
The fire is believed to have started on the roof of the building.
College spokesman Joy Tiou says the school is waiting for more information before coming up with a contingency plan on how to move forward.
The renovation project was expected to be completed on Aug. 1 and the building ready for use for fall term, Tiou said.
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.
