Overnight structure fire claims the life of a Gunbarrel woman

Just after 11:15 p.m. on January 12, the Boulder County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call of a structure fire in a condominium complex in the 7400 block of Singing Hills Drive in Gunbarrel. Prior to the arrival of deputies and firefighters, neighbors in an adjoining condominium unit helped to evacuate two women inside a unit that was on fire.

A 57-year-old woman who had been evacuated by her neighbors from a unit on fire collapsed a short time after her evacuation. Deputies and firefighters were with her and immediately began CPR. Despite the immediate life-saving rescue efforts that were made, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene approximately 45 minutes after the fire was first reported. The other woman evacuated, a 19-year-old family member of the deceased woman, was unharmed.

Forty-five firefighters from seven fire departments, fourteen sheriff's deputies, and a number of other rescue and medical personnel, responded to the scene to suppress and investigate the fire. Little is known at this time about what may have caused the fire, or where the fire may have originated, but it is believed that the fire impacted at least two units in the eight-unit building.

Xcel Energy cut off all power and gas to the affected condominium building, and the entire "E" building remains under complete evacuation. Other buildings in the condominium complex remain unaffected. Displaced residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross in finding alternative sheltering arrangements.

The Boulder Rural Fire Protection District is responsible for determining the cause and origin of the fire, and has requested investigative assistance from the county-wide Multi-Agency Fire Investigation Team (MAFIT). The Boulder County Coroner's Office is responsible for determining the cause and origin of the woman's death, and to confirm her identity. Sheriff's investigators are working in conjunction with both the MAFIT Team and the Coroner's Office in each aspect of the investigation.

The agencies who responded to assist in the fire suppression efforts included the Boulder Rural Fire Protection District, the Boulder Fire Department, the Louisville Fire Department, the Lafayette Fire Department, the Rocky Mountain Fire Protection District, the Mountain View Fire Protection District, the Boulder Emergency Squad, and AMR Ambulance. Additionally, victim advocates from the Sheriff's Office also responded to provide support to the victim's family members and other affected residents.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available through the investigation.

The sheriff's case number related to this investigation is 18-227.