Destroyed

Officials: Provo Tabernacle fire likely caused by lamp

Jim Dalrymple - Daily Herald | Posted: Thursday, March 31, 2011 10:14 am
PROVO -- Fire officials have determined that an incandescent light placed on a wooden box ignited the fire that destroyed the Provo Tabernacle.
A final report on the fire released Thursday indicates that the light was an energized 300 watt bulb, and was placed too close to combustible materials. Eventually the light caught fire and destroyed the historic building on Dec. 17. The report places the cost of the damage at $15 million.
The report blames an inadequate notification system, a lack of an automatic sprinkler system, an additional fuel load brought in for a concert and repeated human error for the destructive scope of the blaze.
According to the report, the building had a fire detection system that was installed in 1985. The system included smoke detectors placed throughout the building, but did not have off-site monitoring. The system was reportedly inspected on Dec. 2 and failed due to unacceptable sensor sensitivity. Fire officials were not informed of the failure, despite laws requiring them to be notified.
Provo Fire Battalion Chief Gary Jolley said that it is the responsibility of the property owner and the party conducting the inspection to alert fire authorities about failed systems.
The report also portrays a comprehensive picture of the causes and the progress of the fire. It states that on Dec. 15 Trax Lighting and AV came into the building to prepare for the Lex de Azevedo choir’s upcoming “Gloria” concert. The concert included numerous musicians and performers, and was scheduled to be recorded by BYU Broadcasting. Trax Lighting and AV was contracted to light the performances.
Though lighting plans did not originally call for it, Trax Lighting and AV technician Jeremy Ostler allegedly added a suspended lighting truss to the stage set up because he felt it was necessary to adequately illuminate the performers.
In the process of installing the suspended truss, Ostler reportedly accessed the tabernacle’s attic. The report states that it is unclear how Ostler got into the attic. Ostler allegedly said building coordinator Robert Rasmussen let him, but later said he used a key to enter the attic. He later allegedly changed his story and said the attic access point was unlocked. However, Rasmussen reportedly said he did not let Ostler into the attic and that the door was not unlocked.
During Ostler’s lighting preparations on Dec. 15 he reportedly said he suspended the trusses and set aside two of the building’s eight incandescent lights in the process.
Chief Jolley explained that the lights were removed from the ceiling to make room for the trusses. He added that there are safety procedures that have to be followed when removing lights.
“When they set those out there are specific ways to do that,” Jolley said, “and that’s to remove bulbs and make sure it is not energized.”
The report states that Ostler claimed he removed the bulbs. He then allegedly put the light on wooden boxes.
However, Jolley said it appears that the bulbs were not removed and the lights were, in fact, energized. The report adds that Rasmussen and two other individuals refuted Ostler’s claim, saying that all eight incandescent light fixtures had lamps in them.
On Dec. 16 choir members conducted a dress rehearsal in the tabernacle. The report states that choir members said circuit breakers tripped as the lighting was powered up, though there is no evidence the tripped breakers are related to the fire. Choir members also reportedly smelled “hot glue” or “hot lights” but did not report these smells to the fire department. Two BYU Broadcast camera operators also reportedly discussed smelling smoke, but attributed the smell to hot lights.
The dress rehearsal concluded at 10 p.m., the report states. BYU Broadcasting producer Tyler Weston and off-duty Provo police officer Austin Williams — who was hired as a security guard by BYU Broadcasting — walked through the building and made sure all the doors were locked. The report also states that Ostler disconnected his cables from an outdoor generator. Ostler reportedly left the building at 11:15 p.m.
Williams later entered the building at 1:10 a.m. on Dec. 17 to reset the heater. He reportedly heard an alarm when he went inside, but believed it was an intruder alert. He checked the building and reportedly heard “popping and crackling sounds.” He attributed the noises to the building settling.
Williams contacted Weston, who in turn contacted Rasmussen. Weston relayed to Williams that the alarm had malfunctioned in the past, and that he should simply turn it off. After several attempts, Williams succeeded in turning the alarm off.
The report then states that at 2:39 a.m. a Nu Skin security guard saw what looked like smoke or steam coming out of the building. The security guard told Williams, who went in the building and discovered a fire on the stage. He also reportedly saw a burning, 10 by 10-foot hole in the ceiling. Williams then called authorities and fire crews responded about a minute later.
In addition to inadequate detection and sprinkler systems, the report points out that the materials brought into the building for the upcoming concert provided fuel for the fire. It specifically states that Styrofoam arches provided ladder fuel, lifting the fire from the stage to the choir loft.
But human error stands out in the report as the most significant culprit. It states that individuals involved with the production failed to recognize and respond to dangerous situations, didn’t report the smoke in the building, and did not adequately respond to the alarms.
But despite the human error involved in the fire, no one has been criminally charged, and the report describes the blaze as an accident.
Jolley said the future of the building would be determined by its owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following the release of the fire department report, the LDS Church issued a statement.
“The Provo Tabernacle was a meaningful part of church history and the Provo community,” Scott Trotter, a church spokesperson, said in an email. “The recent fire is a tragedy for all who loved the building and its link to our pioneer past.”
Despite rampant rumors about rebuilding, the church only publicly indicated that it is still deciding what to do with the building.
“Church leaders continue to evaluate and explore options for the building and we will make those plans known as soon as they are available,” Trotter said.