Fire Destroys Home, Investigated As Arson
IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Authorities in Clear Creek County are investigating a fire that may have been started on purpose.
Firefighters battled the blaze for hours Saturday afternoon at a three-story lodge home in the hills near Idaho Springs.
The structure was a total loss.
An air tanker doused the fire with slurry in an effort to keep flames from spreading to other homes nearby.
A Chinook-type helicopter dropped an estimated 25,000 gallons of water on the engulfed house.
About 30-volunteer firefighters from three departments battled the blaze.
"It's basically an athletic event for firefighters," said Kelly Babeon, Chief of Clear Creek Fire Authority.
Babeon said that the season's unusually dry conditions did not make fighting the fire any easier, and neither did the home's remote location.
"We expected that we would potentially lose this structure because of the location. We have to haul water up here," Babeon explained.
Tanker trucks took turns shuttling water from the nearest hydrant several miles away.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire as possible arson, and said that one person was in custody.
The property owner told CBS4's Melissa Garcia that he believes an evicted ex-tenant started the blaze.
Officials said that one person was inside the home when the fire started.
No one was injured.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
