A trailer home was destroyed, and a man was left with severe burns Wednesday night in a structure fire east of Cortez.
Firefighters from the Cortez Fire Protection District responded to the fire at 6:23 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Side Trailer Park, 28330 Road K.2.
When firefighters arrived, fire could be seen shooting outside the windows, said Cortez Fire Protection District Fire Chief Jeff Vandevoorde.
Three men were inside when the fire started at the back of the trailer, Vandevoorde said.
The man at the back of the trailer was pulled out of the trailer by his roommates. He suffered burns on 40 percent of his body and after being transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital, was quickly flown to a burn center, Vandevoorde said.
One of the roommates was treated for smoke inhalation and transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital. The names of the three men were not released.
Additional fire personnel from Mancos and Dolores assisted with the fire, and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.
So far, Vandevoorde said, a cause has not been determined.
“They are still investigating,” he said.
Crews were on the scene of the fire until about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A damage cost estimate was not provided, but Vandevoorde said nothing could be salvaged.
“The trailer was a total loss,” he said.
Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to other structures. They arrived at the scene of the fire within seven minutes of the call, and the active fire was out within 30 minutes, Vandevoorde said.
This was the second structure fire firefighters from Cortez responded to on Wednesday.
“The crews did a great job on both fires,” Vandevoorde said.
Fire also hits workshop
Cortez firefighters also responded to a structure fire Wednesday at 1084 E. Empire St.
Mike Worrell was working on a vehicle in a workshop just after 3 p.m. behind the home when a fire started. Worrell said he was welding and a spark must have ignited a fuel line.
Jeff Vandevoorde said the fire quickly took over.
Worrell said he tried to put it out and burned his hand and arm before calling 911.
“I knew I couldn’t put it out,” he said.
Vandevoorde said when crews arrived, heavy smoke and flames were coming from the workshop.
“We were able to knock it down quick,” Vandevoorde said.
The intersection of Empire and Mildred was closed while firefighters ran two lines of water across the street to fight the fire.
Firefighters had the fire out in 4½minutes contained the fire to the workshop.
“It didn’t spread. There was no damage to the house,” Vandevoorde said.
Louanna Worrell, who has lived in the house for over 30 years, was extremely grateful.
“I am so thankful and grateful for the police and the fire department,” Mike’s mother, Louanna Worrell, said. “We really appreciated the fire and the police department. They were here so quick.”
Firefighters could not immediately provide a damage estimate.
