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LDS Church, Orem Fire Department investigate fire at temple site

By Genelle Pugmire - | Jul 26, 2022

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

An exterior rendering of the new Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Orem Fired Department and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue to investigate what is now being termed a suspicious fire at the construction site of the Orem Utah Temple.

Reports were made late Monday night that flames could be seen at the temple. Calls reportedly came from apartments overlooking the temple and from motorist traveling on Interstate 15 next to the temple construction area.

The fire was confined to one room on the third floor of the temple, damaging construction materials, according to Sean Hirst, information officer for the fire department.

Doug Andersen, spokesman for the church, released a statement Tuesday saying, “Just before midnight, on Monday July 25th, flames became visible inside the Orem Utah Temple, which is currently under construction. The source of the fire is not yet known, but it is believed that the fire started on the third floor of the temple. Foam was used to extinguish the fire as much as possible, which limited water damage to the construction site. Damage is still being evaluated this morning. The Church is grateful to the Orem Fire Department for their quick response.”

“The fire department arrived after most of (the fire) was out,” Hirst said. “There was mostly just light smoke and firefighter extinguished what was left.”

Hirst indicated that most of the construction material burned itself out. The temple is one in a number of LDS Church facilities that have recently received damage from arsonists or suspicious sources.

The Orem Temple was announced Oct. 5, 2019, and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023.

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