Fire destroys equine reproduction center at Colorado State veterinary college

Fort Collins, Colo.

— A fire ripped through Colorado State University’s (CSU) Equine Reproduction Laboratory office building early July 26, forcing the relocation of at least 20 horses.

No people or horses were injured as a result of the early morning blaze, but the equine veterinary laboratory suffered damages estimated between $9 million and $15 million.The 20 or more horses housed in barns surrounding the laboratory were evacuated simply due to the heavy smoke from the fire. None of the equine barns were damaged, however, the veterinary college reports.

Twenty-foot flames were coming through the roof when firefighters with the Poudre Fire Authority arrived. Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night, extinguishing hotspots, explains Patrick Love of the Poudre Fire Authority.

“The building is a total loss,” says CSU’s spokeswoman Del Rae Moellenburg. There might be some contents that could be salvaged, but the roof collapsed during the fire and the university is now looking to place the dozen or so employees who worked there in other offices and laboratories around campus.

The 6,000-square-foot building was constructed in 1979 and underwent three expansions/renovations during its history—the last in early 2004. The building was used for teaching, demonstrations, offices and research. Reproductive services offered by the university, like artificial insemination and semen collection, will still be available, Moellenburg says.

“We are doing everything we can to minimize the impact to the staff working there,” she says.

Firefighters have not yet identified the cause of the fire.