About 4:52 a.m. Wednesday, Cortez Fire Protection District crews responded to a house fire on U.S. Highway 160 south of Cortez.

The two-story structure was engulfed in flames, said Chief Jay Balfour, and was unoccupied.

“It was going pretty strong. We had to play defense and fight it from the outside,” he said.

There were no injures. The house, which was destroyed, was under renovations, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. No hydrants were nearby, so tanker trucks were used to shuttle water from the nearest hydrant at the old M&M truck stop. The roof had caved in, and a backhoe was used to knock down walls so the fire could be extinguished.

An occupied residence near the blaze was evacuated. Nearby vehicles were moved away from the fire, and a propane tank was protected. The fire was just north of the Eagle Claw Liquor store.

Mutual aid was provided by Lewis Arriola Fire, Dolores Volunteer Fire Department, Mancos Fire Department and Ute Mountain Fire Department. Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office deputies and CDOT also responded.

Shortly after responding to the U.S. 160 fire, fire crews were called to a fire at a home on Madison Avenue in Cortez. The fire was put out, and there was minimal damage. The cause is under investigation by the Cortez Police Department, Balfour said.