A fire forced the evacuation of 30 people from an apartment complex a block away from Colorado State University in Fort Collins early this morning, authorities say.
The two-alarm fire broke out at 4 a.m. at 1301 University Ave., said Patrick Love, spokesman for Poudre Fire Authority.
When firefighters arrived they immediately evacuated 30 mostly college students from the three-floor apartment complex’s 10 units.
The blaze nearly caught a building next door to the apartments on fire, Love said.
A total of 37 firefighters responded to the fire, which destroyed one apartment and severely damaged four other apartments.
It took less than an hour to extinguish the fire, Love said.
Investigators were trying to determine how the fire, which began early in the morning on St. Patrick’s Day, got started.
Evacuees were taken to a nearby church, where the American Red Cross of northern Colorado provided food and clothing.
Love said that a dozen people were displaced by the fire.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
