CRAIG — A 3-year-old child perished in a Christmas Eve fire that erupted at a residence in the Meadows subdivision on the west side of Craig Monday, Dec. 24.
According to Capt. Bill Leonard, with the Craig Police Department, officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after 10 a.m.
“About 10:20, officers were dispatched to a house fire over here at 1921 Woodland (Ave.),” Leonard said. “They were informed that there was a child still inside. They attempted several times to get in and were pushed back at every attempt and could not get to the room where the child was. So we lost a child this morning.”
The child’s name and gender are being withheld pending notification of the family. According to scanner traffic, the house was occupied by a family of four, including the deceased child.
Leonard said the cause of the fire is not yet known, and — as is required in cases of fatal fires — the Colorado Bureau of Investigation will complete an arson investigation.
“We’re waiting on a fire investigator out of Denver we’ve asked to assist from CBI,” Leonard said. “So we’re just going to maintain the scene until he arrives to investigate the cause of the fire.”
He added an emergency responder sustained minor injuries while attempting to reach the child, but was treated at the scene.
The 1900 block of Woodland Avenue remained closed to through traffic as of 1 p.m. and was likely to remain closed into the late-afternoon hours as the investigation proceeds.
In addition to CPD, Craig Fire/Rescue, Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, Memorial Regional Health, the Moffat County HazMat team, and Yampa Valley Electric Association responded to the scene.
Red Cross has been activated to help provide support to the family and is taking care of all of their immediate needs. The Community Budget Center and its director, Karen Brown, will act as the local contact person for donations, which may be dropped off at the center beginning Wednesday, Dec. 26.
Brown can be reached to answer questions by calling 970-824-7898.
The Craig Press will have more on this breaking story as new information becomes available.