Fire damages LDS church

WEST JORDAN — A two-alarm fire at an LDS church caused extensive damage Sunday and the cause of the blaze was under investigation.

The fire began about 4:30 p.m. at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward house at 8950 S. Temple Drive (1300 West), West Jordan Fire Department battalion chief Mark McElreath said.

A total of 75 firefighters from eight local agencies battled the blaze. It was extinguished about one hour after crews arrived, McElreath said.

People were inside the building when the fire was discovered, but everyone had safely evacuated by the time fire crews arrived, he said.

The fire originated in the church's cultural hall, possibly near the stage area.

The cultural hall and a couple of classrooms have extensive fire damage, McElreath said, and the rest of the structure has significant smoke damage.

McElreath estimated it would take a month or more before the church could be repaired, cleaned and re-opened for use.

Firefighters punched two holes in the cultural hall's roof so the smoke could escape, making it easier to fight the fire, McElreath said.

No financial estimate of the damage was available Sunday.

The building is used by the LDS Church's River Oaks stake.