Lightning Strike Confirmed as Cause of Fort Collins Memory Care Facility Fire
A lightning strike has been confirmed as the cause of a fire at a Fort Collins memory care facility on September 16, according to Poudre Fire Authority investigators who spoke with staff members who heard and felt the strike during an active thunderstorm.
The fire occurred in the attic of a facility in the 5050 block of South Lemay Avenue as hail and lightning struck the Fort Collins area. Thirty residents were evacuated without injury and relocated to another wing of the building while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
The lightning-related fire comes amid heightened awareness of electrical storm dangers following the deaths of two elk hunters in the Colorado wilderness. Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko went missing September 11, and the Conejos County Coroner confirmed that lightning strikes caused both deaths.
Poudre Fire Authority used the recent incidents to share lightning safety tips for Northern Colorado residents, emphasizing the "When thunder roars, go indoors" rule while acknowledging that indoor shelter is not always available.
Fort Collins falls within a region that experiences relatively high lightning activity during Colorado's peak season from June through August. According to lightning climatology data from the National Weather Service, western Larimer County experiences between 4 and 6 lightning flashes per square kilometer annually, with the highest concentrations occurring along the foothills where storms frequently form before moving eastward onto the plains.
Historical records show Larimer County has experienced multiple lightning fatalities and injuries over the past two decades, including two graduate students killed July 24, 2008, and nine people injured July 3, 2005, at Boyd Lake near Loveland.
The memory care facility fire demonstrated the effectiveness of proper emergency protocols and fire suppression systems. Fire sprinkler systems have proven critical in preventing catastrophic fires at residential facilities, with Poudre Fire Authority reporting no fatalities in fully sprinklered buildings within their jurisdiction over the past decade.
Outdoor Lightning Safety Guidelines:
For people caught outside during thunderstorms, Poudre Fire Authority recommends finding enclosed shelter rather than open structures like porches or gazebos. When no indoor shelter is available, safety measures include moving away from elevated areas such as hills and ridges, crouching in a ball-like position with minimal ground contact, and avoiding isolated trees while seeking shelter near lower trees in forested areas.
Indoor Lightning Precautions:
During thunderstorms, residents should avoid contact with water including bathing, showering, or washing dishes, since lightning can travel through building plumbing systems. Electrical devices connected to outlets should not be used, and people should stay away from windows, doors, and concrete surfaces that may contain metal reinforcement bars.
Colorado's lightning season typically intensifies in late spring, peaks during summer months, and continues through early fall. The Front Range region's mountainous terrain enhances storm formation as daytime heating creates updrafts that channel moisture upward along the slopes, creating conditions particularly favorable for thunderstorm development.
Memory care facilities in Colorado must comply with state emergency preparedness protocols that include severe weather response procedures, staff training requirements, and regular evacuation drills designed specifically for residents with cognitive impairments who may not understand alarm signals or evacuation instructions.
The September 16 incident marked the facility's successful implementation of these emergency protocols, with all residents safely evacuated and accounted for despite the challenging weather conditions that forced firefighters to modify their response procedures during the active lightning storm.