Fire breaks out at the historic Thunderbird Inn in Florissant
FLORISSANT, Colo. (KRDO) – Firefighters from across Teller County responded to a fire at the historic Thunderbird Inn in Florissant late Wednesday night.
At approximately 11:32 p.m. on Oct. 1, Florrisant Fire Rescue (FFR) said crews reported to the scene of a structure fire at the hotel, located just off Highway 24 and Teller County Road 1.
Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including the Four Mile Fire Protection District, the Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District, the Divide Fire Protection District, the Lake George Fire Protection District, and the Ute Pass Regional Health Service District.
Volunteer firefighters on scene reported heavy smoke throughout the building. According to FFR, due to the age and "heavy build" of the hotel, crews had to force entry through multiple doors to combat the flames.
The bulk of the fire was in the front bar area near the fireplace, the department said, which had extended to the hotel's wood floor, walls, ceiling, and attic area.
The fire was extinguished after crews were on scene for about 45 minutes, FFR said. At this time, the department says the cause of the fire appears to be nonsuspicious, and it looks to have started from the hotel fireplace.
At around 2 a.m., employees at the Thunderbird Inn said the extent of the damage remains unclear in a post to social media.
“Please message here or stop by with help or questions," the post read in part. "Thank you for your help and patience as we evaluate and rebuild.”
The Thunderbird Inn is currently raising money on GoFundMe, with the fundraiser's organizer calling the fire a "freak accident."
"The family ties and strong community that support the Thunderbird run deep. We are calling upon our community, far and wide, local and worldly, to please help support the clean up and rebuild of the historical Thunderbird Inn," reads the fundraiser's page.
To access the GoFundMe, click here.
Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.
