Fruita Home Destroyed After Exploding Into Flames
A reported explosion and fire in Fruita Thursday morning (October 11) completely destroyed a home.
The explosion was heard by a neighbors around 11:30 a.m. who didn't initially realize what it was. While searching for the source they saw the home on Victorian Lane near 21 Road and L Road engulfed in flames and reported the emergency.
The Lower Valley Fire Department, Grand Junction Fire Department, and Mesa County Sheriff's Office responded to the fire and say significant damage was done before they could get the fire under control.
One of the problems firefighters faced while trying to extinguish the fire was the lack of a reliable source of water. Neighbors assisted the fire departments by routing irrigation water to the scene to fill drop tanks fire trucks could draw water from.
Crews from Xcel Energy were also on scene in the event the fire presented electrical or natural gas hazards from lines near the home.
The fire was mostly extinguished by 2 p.m. and crews were still on-scene late Thursday afternoon cleaning up and checking for hot spots.
Initial unconfirmed reports indicate the home's owners are out of state but there is at least one person staying at the home. That person was not at home when the fire broke out.
As of Thursday night (October 11) the cause of the fire has still not been determined. There were no reported injuries, but two pets who were believed to have been in the home are reported missing.