Durango Fires
By GUILLERMO VERDUZCO
Are Durango’s local businesses doing something to make them prone to fires? Local businesses have been catching fire ever since the restaurant Seasons exploded. Is there a reason for all these fires? During the past two years two of Durango’s favorite businesses, East by Southwest and El Morro have closed temporarily due to of fires. These events both happened around the time the city was working on the gas lines preparing them for winter.
This year two local fires have happened, one in Durango and one in Pagosa Springs. El Moro was a historic location in downtown Durango, like many other restaurants on Main Street. During the night of October 5th, 2016 the water heater caught ablaze and started a small fire that was extinguished very quickly by the sprinkler system. Lucky for the historic building the fire was contained in a small back corner and minimal damage was done. El Moro will still be closed for some time as smoke damage affected the building and could affect the health of employees and customers.
During the early morning of October 22nd, 2016 the Adobe Building in Pagosa Springs caught on fire, destroying sixteen business. There was massive damage done to the building, so the only thing left was the outside walls. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has launched a huge investigation to find the reason it caught ablaze. Megan Macht, spokeswoman for the Pagosa Fire Protection District, was quoted in the Durango Herald as saying “Right now the ATF is not ruling out anything, only because they need to keep their head clear and all the options open while they investigate.” Pagosa Springs hasn't had a fire that has impacted their community this greatly in a long time. The community has offered up offices for the fifteen businesses that were also affected. The Bear Creek Saloon and Grill was one of the businesses affected, they will be closed until they find another place to start back up.
The morning of November 3, 2015 at approximately 5:05 am restaurant owner Hydi Verduzco received a call from the inventory people that there was a layer of smoke on the ceiling and billowing down the staircase of the Golden Triangle restaurant, which has since been rebranded as Zen Cousin. A fire had started in the dryer upstairs where the kitchen towels were cleaned. Verduzco said she had opened the dryer the night before, mixed up the towels and left the door open. There was extensive smoke damage done to the building. The only damage done by the fire itself was to the clothes in the dryer. Fortunately, they could rebuild in eight weeks and keep their employees on payroll.
During the day of March 4, 2008 Seasons of Durango caught fire and exploded. There was massive damage done to the building and surrounding buildings. The fire started in the fryer in the kitchen. After the fire started it caused a gas line to explode. Seven firefighters were injured when the gas line exploded. Season relocated and started back up, Ken & Sue's is now in the old location of Seasons.
During the winter the temperature drops so the city needs to winterize the gas lines so they don't freeze or brake. The two fires, Seasons and Bear Creek, that happened with total destruction were during the time the gas line was either being winterized or summarized. The other fires, East by South West and El Moro, were caused by Grease and a malfunction in a water heater. Many businesses have caught ablaze because of oil and grease in rags and grease behind a fryer. Within one week a one inch layer of grease can build up anywhere in the kitchen causing the grease to catch on fire.
By GUILLERMO VERDUZCO
Are Durango’s local businesses doing something to make them prone to fires? Local businesses have been catching fire ever since the restaurant Seasons exploded. Is there a reason for all these fires? During the past two years two of Durango’s favorite businesses, East by Southwest and El Morro have closed temporarily due to of fires. These events both happened around the time the city was working on the gas lines preparing them for winter.
This year two local fires have happened, one in Durango and one in Pagosa Springs. El Moro was a historic location in downtown Durango, like many other restaurants on Main Street. During the night of October 5th, 2016 the water heater caught ablaze and started a small fire that was extinguished very quickly by the sprinkler system. Lucky for the historic building the fire was contained in a small back corner and minimal damage was done. El Moro will still be closed for some time as smoke damage affected the building and could affect the health of employees and customers.
During the early morning of October 22nd, 2016 the Adobe Building in Pagosa Springs caught on fire, destroying sixteen business. There was massive damage done to the building, so the only thing left was the outside walls. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has launched a huge investigation to find the reason it caught ablaze. Megan Macht, spokeswoman for the Pagosa Fire Protection District, was quoted in the Durango Herald as saying “Right now the ATF is not ruling out anything, only because they need to keep their head clear and all the options open while they investigate.” Pagosa Springs hasn't had a fire that has impacted their community this greatly in a long time. The community has offered up offices for the fifteen businesses that were also affected. The Bear Creek Saloon and Grill was one of the businesses affected, they will be closed until they find another place to start back up.
The morning of November 3, 2015 at approximately 5:05 am restaurant owner Hydi Verduzco received a call from the inventory people that there was a layer of smoke on the ceiling and billowing down the staircase of the Golden Triangle restaurant, which has since been rebranded as Zen Cousin. A fire had started in the dryer upstairs where the kitchen towels were cleaned. Verduzco said she had opened the dryer the night before, mixed up the towels and left the door open. There was extensive smoke damage done to the building. The only damage done by the fire itself was to the clothes in the dryer. Fortunately, they could rebuild in eight weeks and keep their employees on payroll.
During the day of March 4, 2008 Seasons of Durango caught fire and exploded. There was massive damage done to the building and surrounding buildings. The fire started in the fryer in the kitchen. After the fire started it caused a gas line to explode. Seven firefighters were injured when the gas line exploded. Season relocated and started back up, Ken & Sue's is now in the old location of Seasons.
During the winter the temperature drops so the city needs to winterize the gas lines so they don't freeze or brake. The two fires, Seasons and Bear Creek, that happened with total destruction were during the time the gas line was either being winterized or summarized. The other fires, East by South West and El Moro, were caused by Grease and a malfunction in a water heater. Many businesses have caught ablaze because of oil and grease in rags and grease behind a fryer. Within one week a one inch layer of grease can build up anywhere in the kitchen causing the grease to catch on fire.