Greeley Fire A Result Of Animal Rights Arson?
Denver Tannery Was Vandalized Three Times In Three Months
POSTED: 8:05 a.m. MST January 15, 2002
UPDATED: 10:58 a.m. MST January 15, 2002
DENVER -- Police and the FBI are investigating whether a fire on Sunday that destroyed a lambskin processing plant in Greeley is linked to a series of burglaries at a Denver tannery.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, vandals hit the HSG Colorado plant at 4920 Washington St. three times between October and December.
In a Nov. 15 break-in, an intruder with a black marker scrawled "Animal Liberation" and "Murder" on two shearing machines. Then, around Christmas, someone with a green marker wrote, "This is my final attack next time burn."
Authorities are trying to figure out if the Greeley fire, the worst in the city's history in terms of damage, and the Denver vandalism incidents could be connected to animal activists.
Greeley's blaze consumed the building, causing approximately $5 million in damage. It destroyed 125,000 lambskins and 250,000 pounds of wool, sending putrid black smoke pouring over the neighborhood east of the plant.
Investigators said the remaining walls are so unstable they still can't get inside to find the cause of the fire, so they cannot determine if it was suspicious.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, vandals hit the HSG Colorado plant at 4920 Washington St. three times between October and December.
In a Nov. 15 break-in, an intruder with a black marker scrawled "Animal Liberation" and "Murder" on two shearing machines. Then, around Christmas, someone with a green marker wrote, "This is my final attack next time burn."
Authorities are trying to figure out if the Greeley fire, the worst in the city's history in terms of damage, and the Denver vandalism incidents could be connected to animal activists.
Greeley's blaze consumed the building, causing approximately $5 million in damage. It destroyed 125,000 lambskins and 250,000 pounds of wool, sending putrid black smoke pouring over the neighborhood east of the plant.
Investigators said the remaining walls are so unstable they still can't get inside to find the cause of the fire, so they cannot determine if it was suspicious.
Previous Stories:
- January 14, 2002: Greeley Fire Still Smoldering
- January 13, 2002: Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Greeley Building
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
