Investigation Determines Windsor Mill Fire was Intentionally Set

$10,000 reward for information offered

DENVER – After a week of investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Response Team, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue and Windsor Police Department have concluded the Windsor Mill fire was intentionally set.

ATF’s Denver Field Division is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects responsible for the Aug. 6 fire at 301 Main Street in Windsor, Colorado.

The NRT, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue and Windsor Police Department started investigating the scene, Aug. 9. The team spent the past several days interviewing witnesses, reviewing photos and videos, analyzing debris and reconstructing the scene. Their objective was to determine origin and cause of the blaze.

“This fire did not need to happen. Someone caused it, so someone out there knows what took place that night. We hope they will come forward,” said Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston.

“Regardless of the hardships, be they widespread natural disasters or devastating personal tragedies, our community always stands up and demonstrates to the world what the power of community looks like. Right now, we in Public Safety need to draw upon this community power to not only find whoever is responsible for this devastating fire, but to stand up in support of the recovery process. We will emerge stronger than ever,” said Windsor Severance Fire Rescue Chief Herb Brady.

“The magnitude and destruction caused by this fire has had an impact on many people. Investigators will continue working this incident,” said Windsor Police Chief Rick Klimek. “We appreciate the efforts of not only the ATF and the National Response Team but all those that have been involved with this investigation. Windsor Severance Fire Rescue were invaluable during this event.”

Anyone with information on the fire is encouraged to call Windsor PD investigators Sgt. Shainline or Detective Hogsett at 970-674-6400; Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477); or email windsormilltips@wsfr.us (link sends e-mail). People can also submit a tip through ATF’s new “reportit” app available at www.reportit.com (link is external) and at Google Play and the Apple App Store. All tips to the app are confidential and can be anonymous.

The NRT concluded their scene work in Windsor, Aug. 12. The concentrated effort allowed investigators to quickly and thoroughly examine the scene and get the investigation into a manageable position for local investigators to continue. The Windsor Police Department and Windsor Severance Fire Rescue will continue with the investigation with the assistance of the local ATF office.

ATF is the only federal agency with the responsibility and ability to investigate fires and crimes of arson. Much of its expertise and state-of-the-art equipment is assigned to the National Response Team, which deploys around the country and the world to help investigate large-scale and complex fire and explosives scenes at the request of local agencies. More information on NRT can be found at https://www.atf.gov/explosives/national-response-team.