(LA JUNTA, Colo.) — A structure fire in Downtown La Junta across from the city’s Municipal Court building has been deemed suspicious, according to the La Junta Fire Department (LJFD).
Fire crews originally responded just after 7 p.m. n Thursday, Sept. 4 to a reported tree fire behind an abandoned house in the 600 block of Colorado Avenue in Downtown La Junta, right across from the La Junta Municipal Court. When crews arrived, they found a large fire behind the home and another structure had also caught fire.
Eventually, crews realized the entire back side of the home had also gone up in flames. A garage on the south side of the property was fully engulfed with fire spreading quickly into the home, and flames were also spreading across the backyard and threatening an apartment building to the south. LJFD said numerous other buildings including a Century Link building were threatened by the intense heat and flames.
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Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department -
Courtesy: Christina Tozzie and Wayne Walter via the La Junta Fire Department
Numerous other agencies responded to assist, including Las Animas Fire Dept, Rocky Ford Fire Dept, Cheraw Fire, Manzanola Fire and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Unfortunately, during the fire attack, a fire hydrant at the corner of 8th Street and Colorado Avenue malfunctioned.
“We needed to relocate the supply line almost 2 blocks toward the North,” LJFD said. “Numerous bystanders and softball and baseball players from Otero College assisted with moving the supply line to a working fire hydrant. This was very much appreciated.”
LJFD said crews battled the fire throughout the night, and demolition crews were called in on Friday morning to level the building and ensure no hotspots popped up.
Prior to demolition, LJFD said an investigation by the fire chief and La Junta Police determined the fire was suspicious. Interviews are being conducted by law enforcement, and LJFD asked anyone who may have information related to this fire to contact La Junta Police at (71) 384-2525 and ask to speak with a detective.