FORT COLLINS FLOOD - 1997

Photo: City of Fort Collins

On July 28, 1997, rains lifted Spring Creek over its bank, sending a flash flood crashing into Fort Collins.

Five people died, 50 others were injured and 200 homes were lost.

"Chaos. It was a lot of chaos," said Poudre Fire Authority Chief Tom DeMint, quoted on the 20th anniversary of the flood by Fox 31 Denver.

Four of the deaths occurred in a mobile home park on College Avenue, according to the Colorado Encyclopedia. The fifth occurred in a residential neighborhood.

Poudre Fire Authority Captain Steve Fleming described the mayhem to the Coloradoan newspaper:

``We had campers and propane cylinders; there was a trailer on fire, explosions at the laundromat, train derailment, people yelling for help, oil in the water ... and all of it happened within 30 minutes.''

Damage was estimated at $200 million.

7TH STREET - 1974

Photo: Daily Sentinel

On April 9, 1974, wind-whipped flames swept the Seventh Street industrial area of Grand Junction, Colorado, destroying Mesa Feed and Farm Supply, H&M Electric and the Daily Sentinel printing plant, which was packed with rolls of newsprint.

A lumber yard also burned.

Embers drifted for blocks, setting alight the American Linen Co. on Ninth Street, according to a report in the Daily Sentinel marking the 30th anniversary of the fire.

Retired firefighter Mike Page said "red hot" pieces of tin broke loose as flames engulfed Mesa Feed while smoke reduced visibility.

``The wind was so strong it was blowing the smoke horizontal,'' Page recalled in an interview with the Daily Sentinel ``When we arrived at the scene and crossed the railroad tracks, we couldn’t see because of the smoke.''

Three firefighters were injured battling the blaze.

The fire broke out on the same site as a Nov. 3, 1898 fire that destroyed the Grand Junction Milling and Elevator Co.