This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Salt Lake City Fire Department is investigating an apartment fire that they have deemed suspicious.

The early Wednesday morning fire left 12 residents of a northwest Salt Lake City apartment complex without homes.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Dale said investigators found suspicious items in the apartment where the fire originated, though he could not be more specific because he had not spoken directly with investigators. Dale added that the family that lived in the apartment where the blaze originated was out of the country at the time of the fire.

"The family has been out of town for a while, so for them to have a fire is weird," Dale said.

Salt Lake City Fire Department officials said the blaze near 800 West and 700 North was declared under control shortly after midnight, but firefighters remained on the scene until about 4 a.m.

While the flames were contained to the apartment of origin, smoke and water damage also left neighboring units uninhabitable.

The Utah chapter of the Red Cross was assisting the displaced residents with food, clothing and housing needs.

In all, 22 firefighters battled the blaze, the cause of which remained under investigation.

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