Three-generation Salt Lake sawdust business destroyed in fire

SALT LAKE CITY — Duncan Brockbank stood amid the ruin and debris that made up what was left of his once-impressive family business and one word came to mind.

"Shock."

A large fire at Pioneer Sawdust — a company that has been in business for three generations — destroyed more than 20,000 square feet of buildings and caused an estimated $1 million in damage Friday.

"I don't know that I've really reacted yet," Brockbank said of the destruction. "We're just kind of going through the motions and trying to determine what needs to be done to get back on track."

Salt Lake fire spokesman Scott Freitag said by the time firefighters arrived at 621 Fulton St. (3000 West), it was already too late.

"There was a tremendous amount of fuel. It was in all of those buildings. So once it went, it went," he said.

Pioneer Sawdust produces wood shavings and sawdust for products such as absorbents. There were four or five structures on the property, all of them filled with wood shavings and sawdust.

"Everything in that property — about an acre and a half — has been destroyed," Freitag said. "Whether it's a building or equipment or vehicles … all of those are gone. They've all been victim to the fire."

Firefighters were first called to scene about 12:50 a.m. Before they even arrived, they called for a second alarm because they could see a large amount of smoke coming from the area.

Jazmyn Swainston, Brockbank's assistant, said her boss called as the fire broke out and told her not to bother coming to work Friday. Instead, she drove straight over only to find the road blocked.

"I had to sit out there … just watching things go up in flames," she said. "I sat out there for about an hour and a half and it seemed like five minutes. It didn't seem like it was an hour and a half at all."

Swainston said there was one cat that stayed in the office that they believe was killed in the blaze.

The main fire was knocked down in a couple of hours. Heavy equipment was brought to the scene to go through the rubble and help put out hotspots throughout the day Friday.

Freitag said investigators wouldn't be able to start their work until it was determined the site was safe.

Although the fire was considered suspicious because crews were not immediately sure of a cause or origin of the fire, Freitag said there was no evidence to suggest it was arson.