Bountiful man faces federal arson charge in Salt Lake apartment fire

Fire crews respond Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 to a four-alarm fire at 550 East 500 South in Salt Lake City.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY When asked why he did it, the man accused of causing a four-alarm fire in downtown Salt Lake City told investigators, "Maybe I wanted to see the fire department."

A federal arson charge was filed Wednesday against Dustin Jay Bowman, 33, of Bountiful. Bowman is accused of intentionally setting a fire on Feb. 9 that destroyed a 64,000-square-foot apartment building under construction at 540 E. 500 South, causing an estimated $6 million in damage.

When interviewed by investigators, Bowman said he was at the construction site smoking Spice when he lit a crumpled piece of cardboard on fire and tossed it under a bathtub that was enclosed in a cardboard box and leaning against a wooden wall, according to the federal complaint.

"Bowman claimed if he intended to start a fire, then it was only to start a small fire, perhaps involving one or two apartments," the complaint stated.

Arson investigators confirmed that the fire started in a first floor apartment on the south end of the building.

Burning embers from the fire also damaged the roof of the nearby Smith's grocery store. The business suffered additional damage when it rained and water went through the damaged roof into the store, according to the federal charge.

The dental offices next to the construction site also suffered "substantial water and smoke damage," the report states.

Based on surveillance video gathered from nearby businesses, investigators believe Bowman first arrived at the construction site about 5:22 p.m on Feb. 9. By 5:45 p.m., a surveillance video camera recorded Bowman walking along 500 South away from the building, according to charging documents. At 5:46 p.m., smoke began rising from the building, according to the complaint.

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Bountiful man faces federal arson charge in Salt Lake apartment fire