Chimney fire damages home in Fryingpan Valley

Scott Condon, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer


Smoke billows from a home up the Fryingpan Valley on Sunday evening. Firefighters were able to save the structure but it suffered extensive damage from flames, smoke and water. Courtesy of Roaring Fork Fire Rescue

A family was able to evacuate a house without injuries Sunday night after an apparent chimney fire spread to the roof, according to authorities.

The fire was reported by the family at 5352 Fryingpan Road at 6:21 p.m.

“The occupants called, reporting the house was on fire, stating that the fireplace had basically caught the house on fire,” said Richard Cornelius, deputy chief of operations for Roaring Fork Fire Rescue. “They saw active flames. One of the occupants was on the roof trying to extinguish the fire but, unfortunately, with the garden hose they were using, that was a futile effort.

Roaring Fork Fire Rescue teams run hose from a water hauling truck on Fryingpan Road to an engine on the opposite side of the river to help with firefighting Sunday night. Courtesy of Roaring Fork Fire Rescue

“The chimney collapsed while the individual was on the roof,” Cornelius added.

The man who battled the blaze was a caretaker of the property and occupant of the house, Cornelius said. He was not injured.

Firefighters from Roaring Fork Fire Rescue reached the scene within 11 minutes of being dispatched. By the time they arrived, the occupants had informed them the house was about 10% to 15% engulfed in flames.

“Based on that initial information we decided to go into an offensive mode,” Cornelius said. “The crews were very aggressive with their firefighting activities. They were able to stop the home from becoming fully involved. Obviously there is extensive damage from water, smoke and fire impingement. The home is still standing.”

One crew and an engine stayed on the scene until 7 a.m. Monday to make sure the fire didn’t flare up, Cornelius said.

He estimated that the home was about 2,000 square feet with a detached garage, which wasn’t damaged. The house itself is uninhabitable. The home was part of a larger property on the south side of the Fryingpan River. Access was across a wooden bridge that was built strong enough to handle the weight of a ladder truck and fire engine. Two tender trucks, or water haulers, were set up on Fryingpan Road and hose was run across the bridge and up a road to the engine, according to Cornelius. The first tender on site hauled 2,200 gallons of water. The positioning of the water haulers required the closure of Fryingpan Road for a short period.

Cornelius estimated that there were three or four other homes and buildings on the property. No other structures were threatened by the fire. The Carbondale Fire Department sent an engine as mutual aid. No firefighters were injured in the effort.

Cornelius said it was his understanding that the family living in the house has relatives in the Basalt area where they were able to get shelter after the fire.

Courtesy of the Aspen Daily News