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Fire breaks out at Eagle-Vail business

Melanie Wong
Vail correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
Walt Bujaryn/Special to the Vail DailyFlames chew up a wall at the Maximum Comfort Pool and Spa building along Highway 6 in Eagle-Vail Wednesday. One person was transported to the Vail Valley Medical Center.
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EAGLE-VAIL, Colo. ” What started as a small fire outside an Eagle-Vail business quickly turned into leaping flames and billowing clouds of dark smoke Wednesday afternoon.

Fire officials said they are still investigating the cause of a fire that consumed a wall of Maximum Comfort Pool and Spa.

According to The Associated Press, smoke from the blaze forced the closure of Interstate 70 and Highway 6.



Several hottub covers leaning against the side of the building caught fire, quickly spreading to several propane tanks and vehicles in the parking lot.

Witnesses said the fire grew in a matter of seconds, producing billowing smoke that spread across U.S. Highway 6 and caused considerable damage to the east side of the building.




“(The fire) was tiny at first,” said Natalie Benson, who was walking her dog past the building. “It just happened so fast. The flames got pretty high. They must have been a couple feet up past the top of the building.”

Jason Stegman, an employee at Big-O Tires across the street, said he was driving past the building when he saw smoke and small flames.

“I called 911, and before I was finished with the call it already spread to the whole side of the building,” Stegman said.

Witnesses said a store employee ran out and tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.

“He only tried for about 5 or 6 seconds before he gave up. It was way too big,” Stegman said.

The building was evacuated and there were no major injuries, said Eagle River Fire Department Deputy Chief John Willson.

One employee who was trying to put out the fire was transported to the hospital for minor injuries, he said.

Several people reported hearing explosions, but Willson said the cause of the fire is still unknown.

The fire did not get inside the building, but left the entire side of the building charred; the blaze also consumed a truck and an SUV.