Old meth house destroyed in fire

An abandoned house that was condemned two years ago for having an active meth lab was destroyed in a fire Monday.

Just after 11 p.m. Salt Lake fire crews were called to the burning structure near 50 South and 800 West. The first arriving crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the boarded-up building, said Salt Lake Fire Capt. Karleen Montanez.

The fire department realized almost immediately it was the same house where they found a meth lab a couple of years earlier. The biggest concern at that point was drug residue still on the walls being mixed with the smoke. One other house was evacuated and all the firefighters had to be decontaminated after the fire.

Because the fire had reached the attic, the decision was made to fight the fire defensively, meaning crews essentially let it burn itself out while making sure it didn't spread to any nearby structures. Crews stood watch over the building to monitor hot spots all night, Montanez said.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation Tuesday.