Fire destroys Fryingpan home

BASALT ” Fire completely consumed a house in the Fryingpan Valley Thursday afternoon, closing Frying Pan Road for three hours because of the threat of explosion from an adjacent propane tank.

No one was injured in the blaze, which started around 1 p.m.

The home, at 7663 Frying Pan Road about seven miles outside Basalt, is owned by Jeffrey Jacobsen, a reserve Eagle County deputy.

According to fire officials, a 500-gallon propane tank next to the house prevented firefighters from doing anything until the house had almost completely burned to the ground. Firefighters didn’t even approach the house until 3 p.m.

“There’s nothing left of that house ” absolutely nothing,” said Vince Higens, a neighbor.

Higens opened the Jacobsen Fire Fund for his 20-year neighbor at Alpine Bank; he donated $5,000 and encouraged others to contribute as well.

Dozens of firefighters from Basalt, Carbondale and the Bureau of Land Management responded to the blaze.

See Friday’s Aspen Times for more details on the fire.

Joel Stonington’s e-mail address is jstonington@aspentimes.com