An overnight fire at the Orem Temple in Utah was extinguished, and an investigation is currently underway.
Late on Monday, July 26, nearby residents and passing motorists reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the upper levels of the three-story Orem Temple in Utah that was still under construction.
OREM, Utah — The investigation into a small fire that occurred overnight inside the Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is currently under construction, has continued. On Monday, July 26, just before midnight, reports of flames inside the temple located at 1471 S. were received. Geneva Road. The fire was put out in a hurry and with little difficulty.
According to a spokesman for the Church named Doug Andersen, “the origin of the fire has not been determined at this time; however, it is believed that the fire began on the third floor of the temple.” The fire was put out with foam to the greatest extent possible, which reduced the amount of damage caused by water to the construction site.
This morning, the extent of the damage is still being assessed. The Orem Fire Department saved the day for the Church, and the congregation is grateful to them for their prompt response.
Officials with the fire department stated that the first reports came from people living in nearby apartments as well as passing motorists; these reports were logged at approximately 11:10 p.m. due to the smoke that was emerging from the higher levels of the temple. In the utility room located on the third floor, the responding firefighters discovered only light smoke and very little fire activity.
The investigation into the cause continues, and it currently involves the fire department, the police department, as well as officials from the county and state fire departments. As part of the investigation, the Church has also asked for the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
One of the eight temples that were announced on October 5, 2019, during the Saturday evening women’s session of the general conference was the Orem temple, which has a size of three stories and 70,000 square feet. President Russell M. Nelson made the announcement.
On December 11, 2019, the First Presidency announced the location of the temple, which is situated on 15.39 acres just west of Interstate 15, in close proximity to Utah Valley University. At the groundbreaking ceremony that took place on September 5, 2020, Elder Craig C. Christensen, who was a General Authority Seventy at the time and the president of the Church’s Utah Area, presided over the event and offered both remarks and the dedicatory prayer.
The temple is not expected to be completed until sometime in 2023, although there has been no official announcement regarding a completion date.