Arson isn't suspected in blaze at LDS church

WEST JORDAN — Fire officials Monday said they did not suspect arson in a two-alarm fire that caused heavy damage to an LDS meetinghouse Sunday.

West Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Mark McElreath said there was no evidence that pointed to either a suspicious or accidental cause. But he also admitted investigators "don't have evidence to say either way" what may have started the fire.

The fire started just as church services were ending about 4:30 p.m. at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward at 8950 S. Temple Drive (1300 West).

The fire started in a corner of the stage located at one end of the church's gymnasium, McElreath said.

Although McElreath said Monday that nothing had been "completely ruled out" as a cause yet, a preliminary investigation indicated that an electrical problem was not the origin.

The next step for investigators is to interview people who were in the gym when the fire started. McElreath said there were about 20 people Monday officials needed to interview.

The gymnasium and a couple of classrooms suffered extensive damage in the fire. Fire officials estimated the church would be closed for at least a month.