Four-alarm fire breaks out at Salt Lake City church

The building was completely engulfed when crews arrived on scene.

A four-alarm fire broke out at a Salt Lake City church early Sunday morning, prompting a massive response and numerous road closures in the area.

Salt Lake City Fire told FOX 13 News that several calls came in around 5:30 a.m. reporting a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse, Wells Ward, at 1990 S. 500 East.

Once on scene, crews encountered heavy smoke and flames, with the building fully engulfed. They also heard screams coming from a balcony, then located and rescued two people with minor injuries.

Soon, several fire crews, about 80 firefighters in total, responded to the scene to help bring the flames under control, including crews from South Salt Lake Fire.

The historic meetinghouse was described as one of the church's “finest and largest” when it opened in 1926, the Salt Lake Tribune reported at the time.

It was built on land formerly owned by Daniel H. Wells, who in 1857 was appointed second counselor in the ruling First Presidency by then-President of the Church Brigham Young. Wells was later elected the third mayor of Salt Lake City.

The Utah-based faith abandoned the meetinghouse after it was severely damaged in the 2020 earthquake that shook the Salt Lake Valley.

Last year, the church signed a contract to sell the building on the condition that its new owners demolish the almost century-old chapel. Negotiations with the potential buyer, however, failed.

In March, a church spokesperson said the faith would retain the property for potential future use or another sale. Church officials applied for a demolition permit this month, seeking to begin dismantling as early as Monday.

Before applying for the permit, the church conducted a high-resolution three-dimensional scan of the building and extensively photographed the meeting room. The chapel's bas-relief was preserved and a time capsule of the building was donated to the Church History Library.

The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13 News are content sharing partners. Read the full story at FOX 13 News. Tribune Editor Blake Apgar contributed to this story.