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Allison property owner refuses fire investigators access

Cause of April 3 fire remains 'undetermined'
The cause of an April 3 fire in Allison remains unknown after the property owner denied investigators access to land. Read more at www.pinerivertimes.com

The cause of a fire that burned through an Allison property last month remains undetermined after the property owner refused investigators access the following day, Los Pinos Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Tom Aurnhammer said Monday.

"It's a little strange, but it's their right to refuse us access after the fire," Aurnhammer said. "But it's kind of a weird deal."

On April 3, Los Pinos fire crews, with assistance from Durango Fire Protection District and the Pagosa Fire Protection District, responded to a fire on County Road 330, south of Colorado Highway 151.

In all, four sheds, a pile of old tires and part of a single-family home were burned.

It took about 20 firefighters more than an hour to get the blaze under control, and crews remained at the scene into the evening mopping up hot spots, Aurnhammer said. It was too dark to conduct a fire investigation, so crews went back the next day, but they were told they were not allowed on the property.

Aurnhammer said that while nothing criminal is suspected, the fire district can't make any definitive conclusions.

"We just don't have that information," he said.

Attempts to contact the property owner Monday were unsuccessful. Aurnhammer said he wasn't sure who was living on the property or managing it. La Plata County records show the property is owned by Elvis and Lacie Ream.

jromeo@durangoherald.com