Fire Destroys Hemp Drying Operation in Colorado

A four-hour fire destroyed a two-story facility for processing hemp Tuesday morning near Mack, Colorado, local media report.

Responders with the Lower Valley Fire District arrived at about 8:30 a.m. to find the facility completely ablaze. LVFD was soon joined by the Grand Junction Fire Department Hazmat team which focused on any hazardous chemicals on site.

Two people suffered burns during the fire, one to the face and the other to a leg. The casualty with the leg injury was treated at an urgent care clinic.

LVFD Chief Frank Cavaliere told The Daily Sentinel that he was unaware that the facility even existed. No pre-planning had been done for a fire emergency at the location.

Lack of water at the site hindered firefighting operations, Cavaliere said. The cause of the fire remains unknown.