Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Greeley Building
Firefighters Say Building Is A Total Loss
UPDATED: 4:54 p.m. MST January 13, 2002
GREELEY, Colo. -- A three-alarm fire destroyed a cowhide plant Sunday morning in Greeley.
The fire was reported just before 4 a.m. at the Montfort Nugget Cowhide Plant at 823 N. 6th Ave in Greeley. Crews managed to keep the fire from spreading but the building is a total loss. It was owned by Omaha, Nebraska-based ConAgra and operated by Nugget International, of Greeley.
When firefighters arrived at the scene they reported the roof was totally engulfed in heavy smoke and flames and partially collapsed.
Eventually 90 percent of the roof collapsed. While the fire was under control by mid-morning it is expected to continue to smolder for much of the day. Firefighters said they planned to remain on-scene the entire day.
"It's a real stubborn fire," Union Colony Fire Authority interim chief Tom Bizzell told 7News. "The roof collapse started before our arrival so now the roof is covering up a lot of the things on fire. We were having a hard time getting the water it."
There is a possibility the walls of the structure could collapse at some point, according to Bizzell.
"Our concerns right now are that the walls are bowed out about three to four feet on each wall so we are concerned about the walls collapsing," Bizzell said.
Due to the nature of the blaze firefighters were not able to enter the structure upon arrival but nobody was reported to be inside.
Monetary estimates of losses are at $3 million.
The plant processed lamb hides from a ConAgra slaughterhouse next door.
A total of about 40 firefighters responded to the fire.
No injuries were reported and the fire is still being investigated.
The fire was reported just before 4 a.m. at the Montfort Nugget Cowhide Plant at 823 N. 6th Ave in Greeley. Crews managed to keep the fire from spreading but the building is a total loss. It was owned by Omaha, Nebraska-based ConAgra and operated by Nugget International, of Greeley.
When firefighters arrived at the scene they reported the roof was totally engulfed in heavy smoke and flames and partially collapsed.
Eventually 90 percent of the roof collapsed. While the fire was under control by mid-morning it is expected to continue to smolder for much of the day. Firefighters said they planned to remain on-scene the entire day.
"It's a real stubborn fire," Union Colony Fire Authority interim chief Tom Bizzell told 7News. "The roof collapse started before our arrival so now the roof is covering up a lot of the things on fire. We were having a hard time getting the water it."
There is a possibility the walls of the structure could collapse at some point, according to Bizzell.
"Our concerns right now are that the walls are bowed out about three to four feet on each wall so we are concerned about the walls collapsing," Bizzell said.
Due to the nature of the blaze firefighters were not able to enter the structure upon arrival but nobody was reported to be inside.
Monetary estimates of losses are at $3 million.
The plant processed lamb hides from a ConAgra slaughterhouse next door.
A total of about 40 firefighters responded to the fire.
No injuries were reported and the fire is still being investigated.
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
