A fire that occurred on Thursday has left several business owners in West Valley City grappling with the aftermath. According to fire officials, four businesses were completely destroyed while another suffered extensive water damage. The incident took place at a shopping center near 4700 S and 4000 W, with two businesses initially reported as being affected.
West Valley City Fire Chief John Evans stated that the damage to the shopping center was close to $2,000,000, with all four businesses’ roofs collapsing. It took around 60 firefighters from across the valley several hours to extinguish the fire. Despite the main part of the fire being out, Chief Evans mentioned that they had to continue pouring water due to the roof deck collapsing. He also pointed out how challenging it was for the firefighters due to the hot weather on that day, with temperatures in the 90s causing exhaustion among them.
One of the businesses that suffered a total loss was Vickey’s Peruvian Restaurant, owned by Victoria Palomino Leon. She expressed her devastation upon seeing her dream destroyed and her small business ruined despite evacuating safely. The restaurant had only been open for two years before Leon and her employees were left without work due to this incident. Although no one else was seriously injured in this incident, a firefighter sustained a shoulder injury during it and was later treated and released from a hospital.
The cause of this fire is still under investigation; therefore, those affected are left trying to come to terms with their losses and move forward as best they can.
