Early-morning blaze: Eagle Mountain apartment fire leaves residents displaced, one person hospitalized
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- The aftermath of an apartment complex fire in Eagle Mountain is pictured Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
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- Large flames are seen from an Eagle Mountain apartment building fire Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
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- The aftermath of an apartment complex fire in Eagle Mountain is pictured Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
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- Jose Villarreal, center, talks with a Unified Fire Authority firefighter after being evacuated due to a fire at an Eagle Mountain apartment complex on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
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- A charred roof and broken windows are shown after a fire tore through an Eagle Mountain apartment complex on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
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- Large flames are seen from an Eagle Mountain apartment building fire Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
A fire ripped through an apartment building in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday morning, leaving several residents displaced and at least one person with injuries.
Captain Brian Christensen with the Unified Fire Authority said the blaze was reported just after 1 a.m. at the the complex, located near North Ridge Loop and Pony Express Parkway.
Flames began on the second-story exterior patio of building J of the complex before spreading through the structure.
Video and images taken by nearby neighbors shows huge flames erupting from the top of the building in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Firefighters and deputies from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Eagle Mountain division worked quickly to safely evacuate residents, including a man who was said to be inside of the units sheltering in a closet.
“They had 12 units that were occupied,” Christensen said. “They (firefighters) went into a fast attack and rescue, they were able to save a gentleman from the third floor and we were able to stop the fire.”
The rescued tenant was transported to a hospital with injuries; his condition was unknown Tuesday morning.
Several deputies were also treated on scene for smoke exposure or other minor conditions, according to a media release from Eagle Mountain City.
Jose Villarreal, who lives in the one of the evacuated units, said his wife had woken up to use the bathroom when someone started “banging” at their door.
He opened the door and immediately saw a huge cloud of smoke and flames from the inferno.
“The only thing I thought of were my kids,” he told the Daily Herald. “So I ran inside, got my two kids and ran out; I didn’t grab nothing.”
In the midst of making sure his family was safely outside of their apartment unit, Villarreal said his wife, who is 39 weeks pregnant, had to be taken to the hospital for dehydration.
“Luckily, she’s out, so everything’s good,” he said Tuesday morning. “But now everything’s a loss, and we’re almost having a baby.”
While Villarreal and his family try to pick up the pieces and cope with all of their belongings now being destroyed, he’s grateful they weren’t harmed.
The Villarreals are just one of the dozen displaced residents receiving help from the Red Cross of Utah.
“The Red Cross gave us some funds and kind of helped out a little bit,” he said. “But we don’t know what’s going to be next (with) all (of) this.”
The Red Cross said its team is providing immediate support for the impacted residents and connecting them with community resources for their long-term recovery.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rockwell Charter High School announced it was collecting donations for the families affected by the fire as well.
“We will be having a food, toy and clothing drive all this week for those families who have been affected by the Condo fire early this morning in Eagle Mountain,” the school announced on social media.
Those interested in helping are asked to drop off donations at the school’s office weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Rockwell Charter High School is located at 3435 East Stone Bridge Lane.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
