Fire At Longmont’s Abandoned Sugar Factory Raises Safety Concerns

Cliff Grassmick, Times-CallLongmont’s abandoned sugar factory is pictured Tuesday. A fire broke out inside a portion of the building early Christmas morning, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and prevent it from spreading throughout the property, Boulder County sheriff’s officials said. After a large fire at the abandoned Longmont sugar factory early Christmas morning — the second fire at the building in two years — officials and property owners have raised concerns about the safety and future of the area. As was the case when a blaze was put out at the location in September 2016, it is not being investigated further because of safety concerns for the firefighters and investigators. “It’s too dangerous to send anyone in to investigate,” said Molly Cropp, a spokeswoman for the Longmont Fire Department. In addition to fire and structural dangers, there are also concerns about asbestos in the building. But the owner of the property, Richard Thomas, said based on the intensity of the fire, he thinks it was set intentionally and was not just a small campfire that got out of control. Related ArticlesDecember 13, 2017 Kentucky lawmaker who was accused of molesting a teenage girl likely killed himself, coroner says December 12, 2017 Crews struggle to keep flames from California neighborhoods December 11, 2017 Loveland woman who lit family home on fire released after dad co-signs for bond November 28, 2017 Man accused of setting RV on fire, gets shot at by deputy, runs truck into sheriff’s vehicle “It shocked me to see the size of the fire, and to see the intensity,” he said.