A Smith's location in Sandy was closed after a suspicious overnight semi-trailer fire. (PHOTO: KSL Newsradio's John Wojcik)
SANDY, Utah — A Smith’s location in Sandy delayed its opening Thursday morning after a suspicious overnight semi-trailer fire. Fire officials say a trailer filled with fireworks caught fire and damaged the loading dock area.
Sandy fire crews got the call to rush over to the location near 9400 South and 2039 East shortly after 1 a.m.
When they arrived, they found a semi tractor-trailer ablaze, loaded with fireworks inside. According to Ryan McConaghie, Deputy Chief with the Sandy City Fire Department, flames originated from somewhere underneath the trailer.
“Pallets and debris under the tongue of the trailer had been stacked there and were on fire,” he said.
The burning trailer was located on the backside of the building at the loading dock area. Those on the scene say flames started to reach a hundred or two hundred feet and smoke filled the shopping area, which triggered the sprinklers in the loading dock area.
“As I walked through the store I could smell smoke throughout,” said McConaghie. “Of course they have all their fresh foods, meats, etc.”
He adds that the sprinklers helped mitigate any potential fire damage inside the store. The loading dock area experienced some minor smoke and water damage, while the trailer is completely destroyed.
This specific Smith’s store is not a 24-hour location, so the store was already closed at the time of the fire. Nonetheless, overnight employees were forced to evacuate the building.
Initially, the store could not say how long it would be closed, but after crews finished their work, opening was delayed by just a couple of hours.
Fire officials say the circumstances surrounding the fire are “suspicious” and they will be investigating the possibility of arson.