A wood stove caused an attic fire at a Cortez home on E. MacArthur Ave. Wednesday morning.

Around 9:15 a.m., two residents of the home suspected an attic fire, called 911 and evacuated with a small child. By about 10 a.m. the fire had been contained by firefighters with the Cortez Fire Protection District and the home was saved.

Smoke could be seen billowing out of the attic vents and from holes punched through the roof by firefighters to inject water.

“Everyone got out and is OK,” said homeowner Fawn Kendrick. “Thankfully someone was home.”

She said the fireplace damper was not working properly, and when another resident check he noticed the wall was abnormally hot. They suspected a fire in the wall, got out and called 911.

Firefighters in full bunker gear entered the house and attic with hoses and “knocked it down,” said Cortez Fire Chief Jay Balfour. “A big thank you to all the agencies who responded.”

It was a chimney fire that spread to the walls and attic, he said. A faulty chimney pipe is suspected. Fire crews were carefully inspecting the home to determine if it had spread to hidden areas.

MacArthur Avenue and North Elm Street were blocked off by officials, and hoses were deployed from a nearby fire hydrant. Gas and electric were shut off to the home.

The family started a fire in the stove last night for the first time this season, Balfour said.

“It is a good reminder to check out and maintain every aspect and part of your wood stoves and chimneys,” he said. “Every year at this time, we respond to these types of fires.”

Chimney sweeps should be done regularly to remove built up soot that can ignite and cause chimney fires. Fireplaces should be inspected for flaws, appropriate set up, proper heat shields, and needed repairs.

Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including Cortez Fire Protection District, Cortez Police, Southwest Health System ambulance, Mancos Rescue, Cortez Public Works, Empire Electric, and Atmos Energy.

jmimiaga@the-journal.com