Colorado firefighters say bear broke into home and started fire

Firefighters in Crested Butte said that a house fire was started by a bear after the animal got inside the private residence. The Crested Butte Fire Protection District posted on its Facebook page that crews responded to a residential structure fire overnight on Aug. 19 in the Mt. Crested Butte neighborhood. 

According to fire officials, the bear forced its way through an exterior door and then broke through a large pane of glass to get inside the home. Once inside, the bear knocked over shelves, furniture and window coverings in the entryway and living room before moving into the kitchen. 

After the bear moved into the kitchen, the bear tore apart the refrigerator, scattered the contents of the trash can, destroyed stuff that was on the counter, and broke apart a dish-drying rack. The wooden rack landed on the electric stovetop, which was turned on at some point after the bear got into the kitchen. Investigators said the rack caught fire and filled the home with smoke. 

Two people were inside the home when the bear broke in and they called 911. They said the bear scratched at their bedroom door and its behavior became increasingly erratic and aggressive as the smoke detector sounded an alarm. 

When Crested Butte Marshals and Mt. Crested Butte Police Department officers arrived, they saw the bear on its hind legs trying to break through the living room's front window, with smoke and flames visible in the kitchen behind the bear. 

Officers said that because of the bear's aggressive behavior, the active fire, and limited access to the home, officers euthanized the bear and then extinguished the kitchen fire. 

Crested Butte Fire Protection District crews were dispatched at 1:16 a.m. and on the way were told that the bear had been euthanized and the fire was believed to be out. The people inside the home were not injured. 

Investigators said there was no trash, food or other attractants stored outside or in vehicles at the property but did confirm the residence had previously experienced a bear entering the home on at least one other occasion.   

Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded to the scene to remove the bear.     

CBFPD posted this advice to help prevent wildlife encounters as bears become more active due to drought conditions:

• Locking doors and windows when you are away or asleep
• Securing food, pet food, and trash
• Cleaning up outdoor grills and food residue
• Never approaching or attempting to remove a bear yourself

Firefighters said those simple precautions can help protect your home, family and wildlife. Anyone who encounters a bear inside or near their home is urged to move to a safe location and contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has received more than 6,000 reports of bear sightings so far this year, which is roughly double the same period last year. Wildlife officials say recent drought conditions have reduced natural food sources in parts of Colorado, pushing bears out of the mountains and into communities in search of food.

On Tuesday, a small bear was spotted near Eddy Hall in the morning as Colorado State University students moved into their new homes on the campus in Fort Collins. 

A few hours after the original sighting, the bear was tranquilized so it could be relocated.

CPW has posted a Living with Bears section on its website to help educate Colorado residents about bears, their habits and how to keep both wildlife and people safe as they cohabitate.