Two People Found Dead in Grand Junction Storage Unit Fire [UPDATED]
A fire at a storage unit facility near 28-1/2 Road and North Avenue Saturday evening (February 21) resulted in the death of two people.
(Update: 3:30 p.m. February 23) The Mesa County Coroner's Office has identified the two victims as 49-year-old Tom Linz and 56-year-old Thomas Smith, both of Grand Junction. The Coroner says the men died of 'thermal injuries' and soot inhalation. Their deaths are being ruled an accident.
The Grand Junction Police Department says the two men died after starting a 'warming fire' inside the unit.
Original Story
According to our news partner KKCO 11News, the Grand Junction Fire Department responded to a multiple unit fire at Guardian Storage, 497 28-1/2 Road, around 6:15 p.m.
Using power saws, fire crews cut into several of the units to extinguish the fire. Initial reports indicate at least three units were destroyed by fire, while several others suffered heat and smoke damage.
Upon investigation, the Fire Department found two bodies inside one of the units. The cause of the fire and manner of death of the two victims is under investigation.
On Sunday, people were checking on items they had stored at the facility and removing items from damaged units. There were also piles of items destroyed by the fire still on site.
[KKCO-TV]