A blown gas line quickly spread a fire Monday night to three homes at the River Park Mobile Court, 542 N. 11th Ave., in Greeley.
Greeley Fire Department Acting Battalion Chief Todd Walters said nobody was injured, but two homes on the west side were fully ablaze before Greeley Fire arrived about 5:40 p.m. The blown gas line caused the fire to spread from home to home, reaching a third by the time firefighters were on scene. At least six Greeley fire engines were dispatched, as well as at least three trucks, totaling 25 firefighters.
Utilities had to be shut off to the entire mobile home park, displacing 43 families, officials said. The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter at the 4-H building at Island Grove Regional Park, 427 N. 15th Ave., Walters said.
Greeley firefighters were still fighting the blaze at 9:30 p.m. Monday, but Walters believed the fire was contained to those three units. Firefighters worked to keep the fire contained as the gas burned until Atmos Energy crews could find the valves to shut off the gas. Several residents stood out in a field to the south of the court, some with pets, as smoke billowed over 11th Avenue in the cold night.
Jose Rojas, a 46-year-old resident of the court, said he believes the fire started in a work shed. Rojas said he heard a loud pop from the area, where a man had told Rojas he was working on something. This fire was the second one this year at the court, he said.
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