Smoke Detector Awakens Occupants to Fire

Friday, October 13, 2006 - Breckenridge, CO

At approximately 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, the Red, White & Blue Fire District was called to an apartment fire at Now Colorado, Unit E-2. Occupants inside the unit called 9-1-1 when their smoke detector activated and awoke them.

The occupants stated that they saw light smoke in their unit, opened up the closet door closest to the smoke detector and saw flames coming out of the wall. One of the occupants grabbed a fire extinguisher while the other one called 9-1-1. After the flames were extinguished, the occupants heard crackling in the walls and observed that the wall was glowing red. The occupants then exited the unit.

The firefighters entered the unit and pulled away the drywall in the closet and extinguished the fire. Fire crews were sent in to the units above and below E-2 to check for fire extension and smoke. Breckenridge Police assisted with building evacuation and traffic control.

The unintentional fire appears to have originated in the chimney chase of Building E. Fire investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a lack of regular inspection and maintenance of the chimney which allowed the products of combustion and fire to leave the metal chimney pipes and enter the chimney chase.

As a precaution, Red, White & Blue issued a non-use requirement for all fireplaces in all of the buildings until each fireplace is inspected and cleaned to ensure that it is in proper working condition. Glen Morgan, the Chief Building Inspector for Breckenridge, was called in to assist with fire investigation, after investigators found charred floor joists. He confirmed that the building was structurally sound.

The Now Colorado Homeowner’s Association was contacted and is currently working to get all of the fireplaces inspected and able to be used again.

Occupants in two units were displaced for the night to allow the smoke to clear and minor damage repaired. American Red Cross assisted them in securing lodging. Damage is estimated to be approximately $1500.

Red, White & Blue reminds citizens to have their chimneys and fireplaces inspected once a year and cleaned as needed based on usage.

"We’re very happy that the occupants had working smoke detectors in their unit to awaken them and alert them to the fire," said Captain Kim Scott. "Because of that, the occupants exited safely and were able to call 9-1-1 immediately, preventing further risk to other occupants and damage to the building," she said.
occupants and damage to the building," she said.

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Press Contact:
Capt. Kim Scott, PIO
cell: 970.485.4374
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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