30 years ago – June 15, 1990
Three separate fires broke out behind Cold Springs Campground, near Highway 119 and Highway 46, on Tuesday afternoon, causing firefighters from five agencies to respond to the emergency. It was about 3:30 p.m. when the first fire was reported. Arriving at the scene, firefighters quickly discovered a second blaze a short distance away. Both were extinguished in short order, but a third outbreak of flames was spotted about a quarter of a mile up the mountainside. The third was the hardest to quench, said High Country Fire Department officer Fran Etzkorn, and there was still a hot spot the following morning. In addition to High Country, Central City, Colorado Sierra, Golden Gate State Park, and US Forest Service firefighters showed up to help quell the blaze. All three fires were located in national forest. The Forest Service is looking into the causes of the blazes.
Columbine Castle, a sprawling two story log building dating from before the turn of the century, was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon. Fire broke out in the unoccupied building early in the afternoon and flames were spotted by two men who were 4-wheeling in the area. They drove to the site to see what was on fire before they reported it, they said. When they came upon the building it was totally engulfed in flames. Calls went out to High Country, Central City, and Colorado Sierra fire departments just after 2 p.m. By the time firefighters arrived at the remote site that is a mile or so northwest of Apex, flames had consumed almost the entire structure; only the tower remained standing, its logs charred and glowing red. Unable to save the building—only the chimney remained standing by the end of the day—the volunteers managed to keep the blaze from spreading to the remaining buildings or to the surrounding woods, despite strong winds that fanned the flames and a propane tank that exploded. They were on the scene until almost 10 p.m. Cause of the fire is unknown, although arson is being considered. An investigation is underway by arson specialist Mike Russell of the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. There is no electricity in American City, and the building’s owners had not been on the premises for two weeks or so.
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