The fire that hit a West Valley City strip mall on Thursday has left business owners facing an uncertain future. Victoria Leo, the owner of Vicky’s Peruvian restaurant, had been looking forward to another busy day of serving her favorite dishes to customers when the fire forced her to evacuate and set up a canopy outside.
Leo expressed her deep frustration over the situation, especially considering the hard work and sacrifices that went into opening the restaurant in December 2021. She and her team were forced to leave behind personal belongings like IDs, passports, wallets, and cell phones, adding to the distress of the situation. The fire caused significant damage to the strip mall, with four businesses being declared total losses due to a collapsed roof and heavy water damage to another.
Firefighters worked tirelessly through the night, battling the blaze and sweltering heat, with one firefighter sustaining a shoulder injury in the process. As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, owners like Victoria are left grappling with the reality of potentially millions of dollars in damage and the loss of their livelihoods. Despite these challenges, Victoria remains determined to fight for her business and rebuild from
