Posted on 02/22/2008 4:40:04 PM PST by CedarDave
An explosion blew out the store fronts of three businesses in downtown Durango on Friday afternoon, injuring up to five firefighters.
The fire was initially reported at 1:40 p.m. as smoke and flame visible from the roof of Seasons Restaurant. Later reports said the fire may have started at Le Rendezvous. At approximately 2:30 p.m. the fronts of Seasons, 764 Main Ave.; Le Rendezvous, 750 Main Ave.; and Half-Price Tees, 758 Main Ave.; blew out at about 2:30 p.m., showering the street with flying glass, bricks and other debris.
Scanner reported fire fighters still had “active fire” at Seasons at 3:45 p.m.
Cell phone service was temporarily disrupted, as were traffic lights. At least one firefighter was blown into the air, landed on the edge of Le Rendezvous roof and was pulled back on top.
All off-duty fire personnel were called in almost immediately after the first report. Durango Fire and Rescue Authority was the initial response agency; Upper Pine Fire Protection District also responded.
Curious bystanders were kept back from the scene of the fire. But Tom Abbott, a real estate agent in Bar Harbor, watched through Brainstorm Internet’s “Eye on Durango” Web cam in Durango. “The first thing I saw was smoke coming out of the roof of one building,” Abbott said. “There were no fire trucks there. But after they arrived, it seemed that the fire began to spread.”
The fire apparently started in the kitchen of Seasons, spreading to adjacent business. All businesses in the 700 block were evacuated. The 600 and 700 blocks of Main Avenue were closed to vehicle traffic.
A ladder truck in front of Seasons apparently took the brunt of the blast. At least three firefighters were taken away on gurneys.
(Excerpt) Read more at durangoherald.com ...
Where is Durango? Is this the Colorado version?
Doesn't anybody proof read these days?
"At approximately 2:30 p.m. the fronts of Seasons, 764 Main Ave.; Le Rendezvous, 750 Main Ave.; and Half-Price Tees, 758 Main Ave.; blew out at about 2:30 p.m.,...."
On top of that, the friggin' headline is wrong. "Half-Price Tees" obviously is not a restaurant.
Jeez!
sw colorado.
This is the third one this week in our area, with the first being the refinery that blew up on Monday. The second was a local volunteer fire department in northern New Mexico. The fire chief had retired on Monday and was apparently in the building on Tuesday when is blew up about noon-time and killed him. A propane leak was the cause.
FMCDH(BITS)
Durango is in the far SW corner of the state, on the last major highway there. It’s a beautiful area with a lot of recreation. Durango has become a tourist and retirement area, along with the Indian tribe there.
Must be “Burrito Friday.”
Yep, World Trade Center, and now a restaurant in Colorado.
Things that make you go "hmmmm..."
The Herald’s headline has been updated on its webpage
“Think you used enough pepper there, Butch?”
LOL! just saw that great flick again last night.
***Colorado. The Swiss Bakery is was a favorite for locals and visitors.***
What is the location from the old CATTLEMAN’S STEAKHOUSE of thirty years ago!
Is it near the block that burned back about 1974?
From Gardenswartz’ where is this block located.
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