Davis Court Chimney Fire

Thursday, May 10, 2007 - Breckenridge, CO

At approximately 6:45 p.m. Wednesday evening, Red, White & Blue Fire District was called to a chimney fire at 66 Davis Court in Blue River.

Arriving on scene within three minutes, firefighters noticed a large column of smoke emanating from the chimney. The crew made contact with the homeowner, who had called 9-1-1, and was brought into the house.

Entering the house, crews noticed light smoke. The homeowner explained that they had started a fire in the fireplace and while enjoying the fire, they saw the glass door to the fireplace break. Firefighters extinguished the fire in the fireplace and immediately began investigating the chimney flue, opening up most of it to search for hidden fire.

Using Red, White & Blue’s ladder truck, another fire crew went to the roof to check for fire extension. Firefighters removed the ridge cap, which extends across the top of the pitched metal roof, and extinguished fire hidden between the sub-roof and the metal roof.

"Because of the construction features of this house, the fire had time before our arrival to find its way to the metal roof and our crews were very thorough in making sure all of the hidden fire was extinguished in the house," said Battalion Chief Mike Rutherford.

"Two critical factors in the positive outcome of this fire were the close proximity of our Blue River fire station that was able to be at this house within three minutes as well as the fact that the homeowner was home at the time of the incident and able to call 9-1-1 immediately," he added.

According to Fire Investigator Lt. Jay Nelson, the fire started when the flames rolled out of the broken fireplace door and entered the wall through a gap between the mantel and the fireplace, thus leading to the fire extension throughout the chimney chase and the roof. The cause of the fire is unintentional and damage is estimated at approximately $50,000.

Red, White & Blue fire investigators worked with the Town of Blue River Building Official, Pete Turner, to ensure that the house was safe and habitable, thus allowing the homeowner to return to his house that evening.

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Capt. Kim Scott, PIO
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