Stain rags improperly discarded in trash cans spontaneously burst into flames at Estes Park Lumber late last summer.
The fire investigation and cause report by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control classified the incident as “accidental in nature due to improperly discarded stain rags being introduced to available combustible debris.”
The early morning Aug. 29 fire caused no injuries but damaged the indoor retail space. The business has continued to operate through its lumberyard and portable offices.
In a phone call with the Estes Valley Voice, Tony DeLuzio, president of Sterling Lumber & Investment Co., which owns Estes Park Lumber, declined to comment on the cause report, but provided an update on the recovery process.
Mitigation is complete, and the company is ready to begin restoring the interior of the building. DeLuzio hopes to have a grand reopening in the spring, though a date has not been chosen yet.
He said the lumber yard was closed for three days after the fire, and a reduced amount of hardware retail returned within about three weeks. The retail section is selling supplies like nails, caulking, and hand tools out of a trailer and the warehouse in the back, which had some smoke damage but has been completely repaired.
“We are very thankful for the people of Estes Park continuing to support us,” DeLuzio said.
Melanie Grubaugh, the store’s general manager, told investigators there had been two separate spills the day before. In one of the incidents, a lid came loose while a custom color was being mixed in a paint shaker, and stain spilled over the front counter area. Employees cleaned up the spills with rags and discarded them in plastic trash cans on both sides of the counter.
The store closed at 5 p.m., and the last employee left at 5:30 p.m. after locking up. Grubaugh said she was on her way to work the next morning when she was told there was a fire.
Crews from the Estes Park Fire Protection District responded at approximately 5:54 a.m. and extinguished the fire.
Working systematically from the least burned to the most burned areas around the structure, investigators found the origin of the fire at the front counter on the west end of the building. Behind the U-shaped counter were various paint mixing and shaking equipment. Nearby aisles and racks contained paint, stains, tools, and accessories.
Besides the rags, investigators also identified electrical wiring and an improperly discarded vape box as possible heat sources. Electrical wiring was ruled out because the circuits were not energized, and there was no evidence of electrical failure in any component.
Investigators found remains of the stain rags in both trash cans and determined that nearby combustible debris and liquids were sufficient for the fire to spread.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, contaminated rags should be hung or spread out to dry on a nonflammable surface outside. Once completely dry, the rags can be placed in a trash bag stored outside until it is collected.
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