The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Investigation still pending
Treasury Liquors and The Store deli in Mt. Crested Butte are closed this week and for the immediate future after the two businesses, which operate in the same building under the same ownership, were damaged in a small fire on Saturday, June 6.
More than a dozen Crested Butte Fire Protection District Volunteers responded to the call just before 7 a.m. Treasury Liquors is located along Gothic Road, just across from the bus loop and Mountaineer Square.
Fire chief Ric Ems says, “When we arrived there was smoke venting out of the south side of the building and all of the windows in the liquor store were ‘blacked out’ by heavy smoke. “
Ems says the fire started in the deli preparation area. He says the incident is still under investigation, but seems to be accidental in nature.
Treasury Liquors did not have a fire suppression system.
Tracy Hastings, who owns the liquor store and deli with her husband, Justin, says much of the merchandise, produce and store equipment is damaged, but it’s hard to say if the building is structurally damaged. “Definitely the structural damage could have been more substantial had the Crested Butte Fire Protection District not acted in such a swift and timely fashion,” Hastings says.
Ems says the actual fire did not spread very far, so there is not a lot of damage due to flames. However, he says, there was quite a bit of smoke damage.
The firefighters used a compressed air foam system to fight the fire, and were able to extinguish the flames with less than 35 gallons of water.
Hastings says there are some busy weeks ahead as insurance investigators and adjustors inspect the premises, but she says she will push to re-open the business as soon as possible. Hastings says there could be a staggered opening, with either the deli or the liquor portion of the business coming on-line first. “If they would let me open up tomorrow down in the garage, I would,” she says.
