A two-story home on Road 46 in Mancos burned down Wednesday afternoon. The homeowners and their pets were uninjured in the fire.
Homeowner Philip Russell told Montezuma County Sheriff’s deputy Ryan Hancock the fire likely was caused by a smoking cigarette that he had placed in an ashtray on a mattress in a home at 8340 Road 46.
Russell said that when he returned to the home after taking his dog on a “20- to 25-minute” walk, the mattress was on fire. Other mattresses and furniture were also stored in the room.
He reportedly attempted to put the fire out with a bucket of water, but when realized the fire was spreading, he, his wife, Mayan Kirks, and their dogs left the residence.
“All fire districts responded,” Sheriff Steve Nowlin told The Journal. “Investigation showed that a resident of the home had placed a lit cigarette in a glass ashtray that was sitting on a mattress, along with two heater fans next to the mattress. … The two-story home was a total loss. No persons or animals were injured.”
Hancock added that Russell was “very upset” and crying from time to time about his home burning.
Hancock left the scene about 7:16 p.m.
An emergency alert announced about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday that fire equipment would be present on U.S. Highway 160 from Mancos Hill to the town of Mancos.
