The Snow Dragon Chinese Restaurant in Ephraim caught fire early in the morning of Monday, Aug. 10, resulting in what one witness described as a total loss of the building.

            Ephraim resident DJ Lovelace, who lives just a few blocks from the restaurant, was on his way to Maverik that morning when he saw emergency lights and vehicles and headed to the site to see what was going on. A resident of Ephraim for only a week, Lovelace has spent his career working in the news and marketing business in Southern California.

            “I came out of my neighborhood, saw the lights and I went, oh my gosh, this is the Snow Dragon,” Lovelace said. “I’ve had two meals there in the last five days and it was awesome.”

            Lovelace arrived at the scene at around 4:30 a.m. and said Ephraim and Manti fire departments were on scene. The fire was largely out by then, but crews were still spraying the scene with water to extinguish remaining embers.

Lovelace he talked briefly with Ephraim Fire Chief Jeff Hermansen. Lovelace said the chief told him a call came in reporting the fire at around 2 a.m. Monday morning.

“It’s going to be missed,” Lovelace said.

Video of the fire can be seen at youtube.com/@SanpeteCountyScene.