Several agencies — including the FBI and the Northern Colorado Bomb Squad — are helping to investigate the cause of the fire that destroyed the main office of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory at Colorado State University on Tuesday.
But the presence of those agencies doesn’t necessarily mean the fire was deliberately set, said Poudre Fire Authority Patrick Love Friday.
They are usually called into help when the structure is large and has a “higher dollar value,” Love said. “Frankly, they come in with a great deal of resources and expertise we can utilize.”
The fire caused $9 million to $15 million in damage, Love said. But the cause of the blaze is still undetermined and it may be weeks before one is established, he said.
No people or animals were hurt in the blaze, which was reported at 1 a.m. at the Equine Reproduction Laboratory complex at CSU’s Foothills Campus.
The office building included some labs but it’s not known yet how much critical material was lost in the fire, CSU officials said.
Agencies working with the Poudre Fire Authority and CSU Police include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Longmont Fire Department and the Northern Colorado Bomb Squad.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
