Barn Fire Injures One Horse & Causes $400,000 Worth of Damage

Firefighters were dispatched to a fully involved barn fire yesterday morning, May 6. One horse sustained burns and was transported by Colorado State University Veterinarian Services for treatment. The fire burned the barn and a nearby garage causing an estimated $400,000 worth of damage.

At 5 a.m., Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) crews were dispatched to the 600 block of S. Boulder Circle (off Highway 14 and east of I25) after a call to 911 reported a fire potentially in a home. The caller saw the flames while driving by and turned around to provide more information. They were able to confirm that it was not a house but an outbuilding of some kind.

When Battalion Chief 1 arrived, he confirmed assignments and assumed command, implementing an offensive strategy for exposures and detached structures and a defensive strategy for the involved barn.

The Engine 1, Engine 6, Engine 8, and Engine 10 crews were assigned initial water supply and attack. The crews fought the flames from the outside of the barn (defensive strategy) because of the size of the fire and unknown stability of the structure. The flames had burned through the roof at that point.

The Tower 1 crew was assigned primary search of the garage building.

The horses that were in the barn had exited and were outside in a fenced in area.

The barn had hay bales and equipment inside which were also burned in the fire. Hay fires are notorious for how difficult they are to put out because of their ability to retain heat. The hay will likely smolder for days and require monitoring.

The residents and animals were allowed to return once firefighters determined conditions were safe.

A PFA fire investigation has determined that the fire was accidental and caused by an ember that traveled from an open burn to a manure pile that was close to the barn.

The last PFA unit left the scene at 1:36 p.m.

ALWAYS keep five ft. of clear space around your home and all other structures. This is one of our top three recommendations for fire prevention, especially for people that live in more rural areas and the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).  

Learn more about how to protect your home from wildfires here.