Investigators rule February house fire accidental; resident's death unrelated

Sady Swanson, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·4 min read

The death of a woman found inside a southwest Fort Collins home after a house fire in February was unrelated to the fire, investigators said after the investigation concluded this month.

The five-month investigation also determined the fire was accidental, though investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Fort Collins police and Poudre Fire Authority responded to a house fire in the 2000 block of Churchill Court in southwest Fort Collins in the early morning hours of Feb. 7. The house was fully engulfed in flames, and firefighters worked to extinguish the fire from outside the house due to the intensity of the fire and the instability of the building, police said at the time.

Police were told an adult female lived at the residence, but they couldn't reach her. The following day — after the building was deemed safe to enter — the remains of an adult were recovered inside the home.

The person found dead inside the house has been identified as the female resident of the home, according to the Larimer County Coroner's Office. Her death was ruled an accident caused by a methamphetamine and buprenorphine overdose. Buprenorphine is an approved medication to treat opioid use disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The morning of the fire, police said officers had noticed a man standing near the scene. After contacting him, police say they discovered he had warrants out for his arrest and an active protection order prohibiting him from being near the residence. The man was arrested and booked into the Larimer County Jail on his outstanding warrants and for violating a protection order.

In this February photo, a bouquet of flowers rests against the fence encircling a southwest Fort Collins home where a body was found after a Feb. 7 house fire.
In this February photo, a bouquet of flowers rests against the fence encircling a southwest Fort Collins home where a body was found after a Feb. 7 house fire.

Nearly five months after the fire, Fort Collins police closed the criminal investigation, ruling the fire an accident, Lt. Jeremy Yonce told the Coloradoan.

"There was no evidence to show that someone did anything to harm the individual or that anyone else was at the residence at the time of the fire," Fort Collins police spokesperson Brandon Barnes told the Coloradoan.

An exact cause of the fire could not be determined, according to a Poudre Fire Authority news release.

The PFA investigation revealed the fire was fast-moving. Fire investigators used burn patterns, heat readings, witness statements and other data to determine the area and source of the fire as well as the fire's path. The investigator concluded that gasoline was present in the home, "which contributed to the severity and quick extension of the fire," according to the release.

In addition to local agencies, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive unit also assisted with the investigation.

Editor's note: The Coloradoan doesn't typically report on individual overdose deaths and therefore decided not to publish the woman's name. 

Substance use and addiction treatment options in and near Larimer County

The variety of substance-use and addiction treatment options can be hard to navigate. For those looking for more guidance, reach out for free to a care coordinator through the CO-SLAW program 24/7 at 1-844-944-7529. Below are some of the addiction recovery resources in and around Larimer County. Colorado Crisis Services, the statewide behavioral health crisis response system, can be reached 24/7 by calling 1-844-493-8255 or by texting 38255.

If it is an emergency, call 911.

SummitStone offers a range of services, including intensive outpatient treatment, medically assisted treatment, residential treatment and peer support groups. People seeking treatment can begin same-day.

Front Range Clinic provides medically assisted treatment and other outpatient behavioral health counseling and treatment.

  • Call: 866-MAT-STAT (866-628-7828)

  • Visit: frontrangemd.com

  • Location: 1120 E. Elizabeth St., Building G, Suite 2, Fort Collins

Sunrise Community Health works with community partners to help patients address substance use along with their primary care.

Salud Family Health Centers offers behavioral health services in addition to and during medical visits.

Northpoint offers inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Turning Point Center for Youth & Family Development provides outpatient care for youths, young adults and families.

  • Call: 970-221-0999

  • Visit: turningpnt.org

  • Location: 1644 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

​​​​​​Harmony Foundation can provide evaluation and detox services, residential treatment, intensive outpatient services and other recovery support services. Staff are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

North Range Behavioral Health offers detox and treatment services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including withdrawal management services.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins house fire ruled accident, resident's death unrelated