Drug Lab May Have Started St. Elmo Fire
Historic Ghost Town Quarantined Following Blaze
POSTED: 10:02 a.m. MDT April 16, 2002
ST. ELMO, Colo. -- A fire on Monday destroyed five
structures, including two historic buildings, and caused this ghost
town in central Colorado to be quarantined for most of the
day.
The fire started about 10:15 a.m., and crews were mopping up hot
spots well into the evening, said Jeanette Stephens, Chaffee County
Sheriff's spokeswoman.
Authorities believe a clandestine methamphetamine lab may have been responsible for starting the fire, but were not releasing further details.
Two firefighters were treated for smoke and fume inhalation at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Leadville, Colo., and released
Doctors also treated six emergency medical workers who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals from the drug lab, officials said.
St. Elmo just southwest of Buena Vista, Colo., off Highway 285. It is known for its remarkably preserved buildings and wooden sidewalks dating back to 1879.
The town, which has eight year-round residents, was quarantined
because authorities weren't sure what chemicals or pollutants were
in the burned buildings, Stephens said. The restriction was lifted
Monday evening.
Stephens said the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the sheriff's
office were investigating, but snow Tuesday morning was delaying their probe.
There were no arrests in connection with the fire as of Tuesday morning.
Additional Resources:
The fire started about 10:15 a.m., and crews were mopping up hot
spots well into the evening, said Jeanette Stephens, Chaffee County
Sheriff's spokeswoman.
Authorities believe a clandestine methamphetamine lab may have been responsible for starting the fire, but were not releasing further details.
Two firefighters were treated for smoke and fume inhalation at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Leadville, Colo., and released
Doctors also treated six emergency medical workers who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals from the drug lab, officials said.
St. Elmo just southwest of Buena Vista, Colo., off Highway 285. It is known for its remarkably preserved buildings and wooden sidewalks dating back to 1879.
The town, which has eight year-round residents, was quarantined
because authorities weren't sure what chemicals or pollutants were
in the burned buildings, Stephens said. The restriction was lifted
Monday evening.
Stephens said the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the sheriff's
office were investigating, but snow Tuesday morning was delaying their probe.
There were no arrests in connection with the fire as of Tuesday morning.
Additional Resources: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.
