SLC's Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg. catches fire

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Downtown Salt Lake City. Photo: Ravi Kayden

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. — Last night firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City. The flames were extinguished in a matter of a half an hour and no one was injured by the incident. The fire began on the second-floor roof where a recent construction project has been underway and was mostly contained to that location of the ten-story building.

A spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) which owns the building, said in a statement, “The most likely cause of the fire is from combustible construction materials that ignited on their own. We are grateful for the quick response of emergency personnel, who were able to extinguish the fire and are on-site conducting their investigation. We are also grateful that no one was injured in this incident and that property damage is minimal and the building will be operational tomorrow.”

The historic landmark attracts locals and worldwide visitors alike who merely marvel at its elaborate exterior architecture from the bustling streets below or explore its ornate interiors. It houses three restaurants, a genealogy research center, a theater, and several banquet event rooms. Named in honor of the founder of the LDS Church, the building was the Hotel Utah in the early nineteen hundreds later to also house the Deseret News newspaper.