Nearly 20 volunteer firefighters with the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District were called last Thursday morning to battle a blaze at a home on CR 324, about two miles south of Westcliffe.

While the home sustained serious damage, it remains habitable.

Authorities were notified of the fire on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:07 a.m. A short time later, 19 local firefighters were on scene.

Homeowner Jim Smith told the Tribune he and his wife and two kids were in bed when they awoke to smoke. The four quickly exited unharmed and called 911.

The fire was confined to the basement, said fire chief Mick Kastendieck, which made it much more difficult to fight.

Kastendieck said fire crews had to ventilate the basement and fight the fire simultaneously. Fire crews were on scene doing just that for more than four hours, with the last crew leaving the scene shortly before 11:30 a.m.

Initially, it was believed the fire was caused by a woodstove in the basement, however, Tuesday afternoon Mr. Smith said the insurance company determined the blaze began in a fireplace in the upstairs living room.

Reportedly, the fire moved down the flue and into the woodstove in the basement.

The basement sustained significant water damage, however, the living quarters only had smoke damage, therefore, the family is living in the home. 

Mr. Smith said he and his family have lived in the home four years and this was the third time they had used the fireplace in the living room. According to Smith, faulty construction of the fireplace attributed to the blaze.

An account to help the Smith family with clean-up expenses has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank.

– Nora Drenner