A Monday night fire claimed a residence on the Road 24.4 Loop in Cortez.
Cortez firefighters were called to the scene northwest of the city off North Broadway, at 11:57 p.m. Monday after a neighbor reported seeing the flames. The house’s owners had reportedly been in Las Vegas since Monday morning.
Cortez Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Vandevoorde said responders believe the fire started near the back of the house, but they aren’t yet sure what caused it or how long it had been burning when firefighters arrived.
A total of 15 firefighters and four trucks from the Cortez, Lewis-Arriola and Dolores fire departments responded to the blaze. Vandevoorde said it took about an hour and a half to extinguish the flames, and some areas were still smoldering Tuesday morning.
Another Cortez fire engine went to the house about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to hose down remaining hot spots and to investigate the cause of the fire.
Vandevoorde said he didn’t believe anything in the house would be salvageable, except possibly the contents of the garage, which appeared to be the last place the fire spread.
“It’s pretty much gutted,” he said. “If it’s not burned, it’s smoke-damaged.”
He said the house’s owners had been notified about the fire, but he declined to release their names. No other structures in the neighborhood were affected, and no injuries were reported.
The incident remains under investigation.
