A commercial fire near 390 S. Orange Street sent a tall plume of black smoke into the air on Sept. 8, 2026, prompting the evacuation of employees and causing the Salt Lake City Fire Department to restrict travel in the area. While no injuries were reported, officials warned that the smoke remained unhealthy to breathe as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
Fire Response and Damage Assessment
The fire, which was visible late Tuesday morning, was described by the Salt Lake City Fire Department as being mostly exterior. According to Gephardt Daily, a tall plume of black smoke was visible before being knocked down, though a lower cloud of white smoke continued to envelope the commercial neighborhood near 390 S. Orange Street as of 2 p.m. that day.
Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Chad Jepperson told reporters at the scene that the building's concrete exterior helped protect the structure from significant damage. Jepperson stated that command confirmed the fire did not enter into the building, as the concrete repelled the effects of the blaze. Most of the material that burned was located outside of the structure.
As Gephardt Daily reported, the fire caused a secondary small grass fire near the freeway due to debris. Jepperson noted that the grass fire was extinguished fairly rapidly and was considered a small fire.
Evacuations and Debris Composition
All employees at the business that burned were successfully evacuated and accounted for, according to Jepperson. The fire department reported no injuries to any persons during the incident.
Jepperson identified the likely contents of the burning debris as wood, cardboard, and electronic recycling waste. He noted that the materials produced a significant odor, stating, "So it smells bad. It is bad. Don't breathe it."
Regarding the fire's intensity, Jepperson noted that crews were using hand lines to spray water and elevated master streams from trucks to dump thousands of gallons of water onto the site. To assist in the process, a front-end loader from Salt Lake City was utilized to move heavy piles of debris, which allowed firefighters to extinguish hot spots more efficiently.
Public Health Advisories
The Salt Lake City Fire Department issued public health advisories during the incident, noting that while they were not aware of any specific hazardous materials concerns, breathing smoke of any kind is not recommended.
For those in areas affected by smoke, the department advised residents to stay indoors or remain in vehicles with windows and doors closed whenever possible. The department also suggested using air purifiers or high-quality air filters. For those who must go outside, officials recommended wearing a properly fitted N95 respirator.
The department also notified the Salt Lake City School District during the response, as Edison Elementary is occasionally in the vicinity of the fire's location.
Investigation and Scene Status
The Salt Lake City Fire Department implemented travel restrictions on Orange Street to allow space for fire apparatus and water lines. The department requested that the public avoid the area to allow firefighters to work and search for remaining hot spots.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Jepperson. By the evening of Sept. 8, 2026, the department indicated they would wrap up posts regarding the incident as crews worked to complete the operation.
