Home which sparked Highland Lakes wildfire burned the same day its foreclosure case closed
TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - It's been three days since a house fire grew into a wildfire, sparking widespread evacuations for people living in Teller County. The fire, which officials have since said was human-caused, resulted in the endangerment of roughly 700 homes near Highland Lakes.
But now, KRDO13 Investigates has confirmed new details about the history of the home that started it all.
According to court documents, the home caught fire the very same day a Teller County judge closed the case of the home's foreclosure on Monday, October 28. The case had begun back in July of this year, according to court records.
According to the Teller County Public Trustees Office, the home at 13 Beaver Lake Circle was under foreclosure, and had been set for auction on Nov. 13.
Online records show that the property was issued two "Rule 120" notices, which means that attorneys are asking for an order to be generated, authorizing the sale of the home in question.
"They will usually mail notice to the address. They will mail it if there's a different mailing address like on the assessor site for tax purposes, [and] they'll send it there and they will usually post it on your door." explained Elizabeth German, who is a Probate and Bankruptcy attorney with Robinson and Henry, P.C. in Colorado Springs.
Records indicate the most recent Rule 120 notice was delivered on Sept. 19.
Just days later, on Sept. 24, court documents also show that someone who was trying to deliver notices for the foreclosure process to the home at 13 Beaver Lake Circle, "could not safely get to the door to post due to large dogs and the owner" it read. Instead, they placed them on the porch.
It was just over a month later on October 23, that the judge authorized the home to be sold. It was just five days later, that the Teller County judge closed the case on Oct. 28, which was the same day the home wound up engulfed in flames.
KRDO13 Investigates asked the Teller County Sheriffs Office (TCSO) if they had been in contact with the homeowner, but have not yet heard back as of Thursday evening.
TCSO officials have previously said they are in contact with the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office on potential criminal charges for the person(s) responsible. TCSO also says, however, that the fire investigation could also determine that the fire was accidental.
As of last checking with TCSO, they said the fire was 90% contained.
