Conveyor belt fire in Pueblo

Pueblo Fire Department crews responded to the Comanche Power Station early Saturday to an unusual fire situation.

One of the massive conveyor belt systems that move coal from trains to storage areas caught on fire.

The fire was burning more than 180 feet above the ground.

300 feet of the conveyor was on fire when the crew arrived.

Initial reports were that a subcontracting company was welding on the conveyor system when sparks ignited the conveyor belts.

They had coal and coal residue on them.

A fire sprinkler had been turned off during the welding.

Burning pieces of conveyor belt fell into a large coal stack that caught fire as well.

“Our crews did a phenomenal job creating strategies that can’t be learned from a book,” said Fire Chief Chris Riley. “I am extremely proud of our members’ ability to safely improvise firefighting tactics to resolve a complex problem.”

Pueblo Fire crews fought the fires for about 3 hours.

The structure was badly deformed and suffered what appears to be structural failure.

Damage is estimated to be approximately $1,000,000.

No injuries were reported.