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Ogden orders security measures at vulnerable construction sites after Eighteenth Street fire; ATF investigating
Summary
City officials told the Aug. 19 work session they have identified 14 vulnerable construction sites after a large fire at an Eighteenth Street project, required fencing, cameras and fire-watch steps at most sites and invited the ATF national response team to investigate the origin and cause of the blaze.
City officials said they have required immediate security and fire-prevention measures for vulnerable construction sites following a large fire at an Eighteenth Street building and other recent construction blazes in the region. The Fire Department briefed the Aug. 19 joint work session on steps taken after identifying unsecured sites and on the ongoing investigation into the Eighteenth Street incident. Fire officials said they alerted developers after discovering security gaps at the Lotus project and other sites, held outreach to local contractors (84 invited; roughly 50 attended a follow-up Zoom meeting) and required site protections: perimeter fencing, cameras focused on first floors, and, in some cases, a fire watch. Fire staff said 11 of 14 vulnerable sites are now considered secured; the department continues to work with the three remaining projects to achieve compliance. The Fire Department also said it requested assistance from the ATF national response team early in the investigation. The federal team—structural engineers, chemists, electrical engineers and fire investigators—remains active in the probe; officials said investigators have determined the fire was human-caused but that it is too early in the investigation to conclude whether the incident was arson. The department said it has also clarified code expectations for vulnerable buildings, including extinguisher placement (within roughly 75 feet of occupiable areas), limits on on-site storage of fuel and lithium-ion batteries, and nonsmoking requirements for unsecured floor space. City staff said cooperation from builders has been largely positive but acknowledged some owners face additional costs to meet fire-watch and security requirements. Officials said they have coordinated with police to secure letters of agency so officers can enter sites for inspections and that ongoing inspections and follow-up will be carried out until sites are secured.
