Grand Junction, CO — At 9:46 a.m., the Grand Junction Fire Department was dispatched to a reported residential structure fire in the 1100 block of Gunnison Avenue. Callers reported visible smoke and flames coming from the windows of a two-story home.
Upon arrival, firefighters initiated an interior search and located two individuals inside the residence. Both patients were removed from the structure and received immediate medical treatment on scene. They were transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire.
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will release the identities of the deceased once proper next-of-kin notifications have been made.
In addition to the two human victims, a dog and a cat were also recovered from the residence. Unfortunately, both animals perished because of the fire.
Crews successfully extinguished the fire and conducted a thorough search of the structure to confirm that no additional victims were present. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation.
The Grand Junction Police Department assisted with scene safety and traffic control. Gunnison Avenue was temporarily closed between 11th and 12th Streets during firefighting operations.
For more information, please contact the Grand Junction Fire Department Community Outreach Office at (970) 549-5800 or email GJFirePIO@gjcity.org.