Chimney fire burns out family

MONTROSE — A chimney fire heavily damaged a home on South 12th Street late Tuesday night.

The home’s occupants had only been in the residence for three weeks and had not yet obtained renters’ insurance, the Montrose Fire Protection District said in an incident report.

The fire broke out after residents put more wood in their heating stove and went to bed. A neighbor spotted the fire and woke the family, who escaped without injury.

The report noted smoke detectors in the home failed to operate.

Flames were coming from the roof around the stove pipe when the fire crews arrived on scene. They were able to extend lines inside the home to hit the fire, and brought it under control.

The fire district said the fire originated around the stove pipe in the southeast corner of the home. Roof joists there showed the most damage.

The fire caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to the home and destroyed $10,000-worth of the family’s possessions. Pre-incident values were $180,000 and $30,000, respectively.

A message left for the tenants at the number provided in the fire district’s report was not immediately returned, and it was unknown Wednesday how the public could help the family recover.