Fire and EMS crews responded about 1:41 p.m. to a working residential structure fire in the 200 block of Laura Lee Avenue. Multiple engines, truck/ladder units and ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
Radio traffic indicated the single-story home’s fire breached the roof/attic and was spreading to the backyard and a neighboring property. A power line reportedly exploded and crews heard audible explosions while noting off-gassing of propane and other fuels. Units established interior and exposure-protection hose lines, hooked to a hydrant, and had water on the fire. Scanner traffic stated all people were out of the residence but animals were present; no injuries were currently reported.
Update: Radio traffic indicated heavy fire damage the primary house that caught fire and another neighboring home.
Details are based on live scanner traffic and may change as official information is released.
GRAND JUNCTION, CO — Eleven people were displaced and five dogs tragically perished Friday afternoon after a rapidly spreading fire engulfed a residence on Lauralee Avenue and spread to a neighboring home.
At approximately 1:40 p.m., the Grand Junction Fire Department responded to multiple 911 calls reporting flames at the rear of a home in the 260 block of Lauralee Avenue. Callers indicated the fire had already spread to nearby fencing and overhead power lines.
Upon arrival, crews found the fire had extended through the roof and into the attic of the primary residence. Firefighters battling extreme summer heat deployed multiple hose lines for an aggressive interior attack. Their efforts were significantly challenged by propane cylinders and other fuel sources on the property, which intensified the blaze and heightened the danger to first responders.
Despite the aggressive suppression efforts, the flames spread to an adjacent residence, forcing crews to battle two structure fires simultaneously. As conditions rapidly deteriorated and the roof of the primary home began to collapse, incident command ordered a shift from an interior offensive attack to a defensive strategy. Firefighters utilized Truck 1’s aerial ladder and master stream to deliver large volumes of water from above, eventually bringing the fire under control.
Aftermath and Displaced Residents
Fortunately, no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. However, five dogs are believed to have died in the fire. Grand Junction Police Department Animal Control officers responded to the scene to assist with four additional dogs that were displaced by the incident.
The American Red Cross is currently providing emergency assistance to 11 displaced individuals:
- Nine residents from the primary home.
- Two residents from the neighboring home.
The origin and cause of the fire remain under active investigation by the Grand Junction Fire Department.
Photos by Grand Junction Fire Department