Two fires within a month have closed two longstanding businesses in Estes Park. The first occurred at the Haber Motel just before midnight Friday, July 25. The second took place at Estes Park Lumber Friday, Aug. 29.
In a town approaching its fifth anniversary since being evacuated during the East Troublesome Fire in 2020, any fire is a frightening and retraumatizing experience.
Thomas Chase Hill was arrested and charged with first-degree arson, criminal mischief, second-degree burglary, and theft in connection with the Haber Motel fire. He is in custody at the Larimer County Jail and awaiting trial.
The cause of the Estes Park Lumber fire is unknown at this time and under investigation.
The lumber yard is barely a half mile from the Estes Park Fire Protection District. Within minutes of the 911 call, which came in at 5:54 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, four vehicles – Engine 71, Engine 72, Ladder 71, and Utility 71 – were on the scene. Nineteen firefighters, including all staff, responded to the call.
Although firefighters contained the fire without cutting holes in the retail store’s roof, the building suffered extensive fire, smoke, and water damage.
General Manager Melanie Grubaugh, who has worked at the store for 26 years, called the damage “heartbreaking.” Grubaugh started her career working at Estes Park Lumber while still in high school: “It is like my home.”
While the retail store is closed, the company is operating the outside lumber yard to serve area contractors, said Tony DeLuzio, president of Sterling Lumber & Investment Co., which owns 10 full-service retail lumberyards throughout Colorado, including Estes Park Lumber, in addition to a truss fabrication facility.
“We want our neighbors to know we are open for business. Phase I of our recovery is already underway. We continue to sell and ship materials directly from Estes Park with support from our other Sterling yards if needed to make sure customers are taken care of,” said DeLuzio, who credits employees with rallying together through the crisis.
According to DeLuzio, no one was hurt in the fire, and cleanup efforts began as quickly as possible. The company is setting up temporary offices to keep business running. DeLuzio said the company plans to rebuild a new retail building “to serve Estes Park for years to come.”
With roots first in Sterling, Colorado, then Denver, and now based in Westminster, Sterling is a privately owned family business dating back to 1909, with four generations of family ownership. Today, the CEO is Jim Gudenkauf. Estes Park Lumber was founded in 1926 after J.F. Schwartz Co. sold his lumber company to Sterling. In its early days, the business was located at 217 W. Elkhorn, now the Rocky Mountain Olive Oil location. In 1970, Estes Park Lumber relocated to 400 S. St. Vrain at the corner of Highway 7 and Manford Ave.
“Ninety-nine percent of our customers do not know that Estes Park Lumber is part of Sterling,” said DeLuzio. That is mainly because the stores do not have a branded big-box corporate look or feel. Each one is unique and has its own hometown character.
In talking about next steps, DeLuzio said the store survived the Great Depression, World War II, and many other significant challenges, and it will survive the fire and move forward.
“Our Estes Park staff has shown tremendous resilience and dedication through this challenge. Many of them have been with us for years, and their hard work is the backbone of our service,” said DeLuzio, who praised Grubaugh, who “has grown into a respected leader. Her example reflects the strength, loyalty, and commitment that make Sterling Lumber what it is today.”