Fire investigators have confirmed their initial suspicions that a blaze that killed three people early Friday in Springfield was caused by a faulty stove.
Authorities said today that the origin of the fire was an older, faulty duct from a wood-burning stove in the residence that was attached to the Hometown Burrito restaurant.
The faulty duct had not been properly secured at the joints, Riley Frazee, spokesman for the Baca County Division of Emergency Management, said in a statement.
Rocky Michael Saldana, 56; his wife, Pamela Denise Saldana, 47; and their son, Jazz Michael Saldana, 17, died in the fire that destroyed both the restaurant and the attached home where the three lived. The Saldanas were the owners and operators of the business.
Frazee said there was a smoke detector on the lower floor of the home, but it is unknown whether it sounded during the fire.
The fire was first reported at 2:10 a.m. Friday and was contained about six hours later. Five fire departments fought the blaze,
Frazee said officials with Baca County Emergency Services urge the public to have a smoke detector on each floor of their home and outside each sleeping area and suggest that a monthly test be conducted to ensure the detector is working.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
