Fire probe starts with deck grill

FORT COLLINS - Poudre Fire Authority officials will spend the weekend investigating the cause of a three-alarm fire Friday night that damaged seven apartments and temporarily displaced dozens of residents.

PFA investigators are interviewing witnesses to the blaze at The Brookview Apartments, 1220 E. Stuart St. The fire was reported at 7:51 p.m. Friday and contained by 8:35 p.m., with a total of 53 firefighters on scene by the time the fire was extinguished.

Witnesses reported Friday night that a barbecue grill on a deck likely caused the fire. PFA Capt. Matt Housley said investigators are looking into that claim but have not yet determined whether the grill caused the fire.

Seven of the 12 apartment units received smoke, water or fire damage. A fire wall in the building helped contain the blaze, Housley said.

Apartment residents have been able to find shelter with friends and family or were provided shelter at local motels in cooperation with the PFA Incident Representative program and the Larimer County Chapter of the Red Cross.

Residents will not be allowed to return to their apartments until the investigation is complete, Housley said.

Crews spent Friday night at the scene, overhauling the building.

Efforts to reach Brookview Apartments management Saturday were unsuccessful.