Fire In Moffat Destroys 3 Homes, Building

MOFFAT, Colo. (CBS4) - Investigators in the town of Moffat in the San Luis Valley are trying to figure out what started a fire on Tuesday afternoon that wound up destroying an entire city block. Four structures in all were destroyed, three homes and one building. No one was hurt.

The fire burned so hot and fast that witnesses told CBS4 that the blaze exploded a propane tank located 800 feet away.

"My son got a whole bunch a video of the fire burning and me screaming, 'Where is the water? Where is the water? Where is the fire trucks?" said Bill Vestil, a resident of Moffat who lost his business in the fire.

On Wednesday the Saguache County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook that the fire "is still smoldering" but that it is contained.

Drone4 flew over the burn area where small flames and smoke could be seen on Wednesday.

For the fire crews who raced to Moffat from neighboring communities to help fight the fire, they encountered a major problem- no water.

"There was no water sources to be able to tap into. To pump water, the nearest resources from here is about a 15-mile drive," said Saguache County Sheriff Dan Warwick.

This disaster has county leaders taking a second look at what it would take to bring reliable water sources to places like Moffat.

Fire officials said that the fire affected air quality in the town, writing: "Anyone in the town with lung or breathing conditions are advised to stay indoors or leave the area until air quality is determined to be regular. Anyone with issues breathing please do not hesitate to call 911 for medical assistance."