Bountiful man arrested in Salt Lake inferno that caused $2.5M in damage

Crews work on the scene Monday morning after a four-alarm fire broke out Sunday night at the site of a future apartment complex at 500 South and 500 East.

Matt Gade, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY Federal officials announced Saturday that an arrest was made in the four-alarm inferno that burned a Salt Lake apartment building under construction.

Dustin Jay Bowman, 33, of Bountiful, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail late Friday night for investigation of arson.

Bowman "stated that he did intentionally start a fire in the structure at 540 E. 500 South" on Feb. 9, a jail report written by a Salt Lake fire investigator states. Investigators said the blaze caused $2.5 million in damage.

Bowman apparently worked at the construction site. On what appears to be his Facebook page, he lists his occupation as an electrician and posted three photos labeled "downtown fire aftermath" the day after the blaze and included a link to a news story about it.

"Guess I'm not working Monday," one post states. "New House apartment complex construction burnt down. Anybody want to hire an electrician for a day or two? Maybe the boss has some temp power to hook up somewhere or something. Can't really afford a day off."

No official charges have been filed against Bowman.

Brad Beyersdorf, spokesman for the Denver office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, confirmed that an arrest was made, but refused to release any other information about the arrest, including Bowman's name or the nature of his alleged offense.

"We're not finished with the on-scene investigation," he said Saturday. "Due to the ongoing investigation and continuing judicial process, no further information can be released at this time."

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Bountiful man arrested in Salt Lake inferno that caused $2.5M in damage