Fire Coverage from the SNYDER DAILY NEWS

A three-alarm fire at Colortyme Rent-to-Own drew more than 60 firefighters from five counties and every available law enforcement officer in the area to the Snyder square Thursday night, but the building was a total loss.

Cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Dispatchers received a report of smoke in the building, 2503 College Ave., at 8:20 p.m.

The Snyder fire department responded with five trucks and was eventually reinforced by two trucks from Sweetwater, and one each from Loraine, Roscoe and Colorado City.

Eleven firefighters from Colorado City also assisted, as did eight from Sweetwater and six from both Roscoe and Loraine.

The building was completely engulfed less than 20 minutes after it was reported and as firefighters inched closer, the two-story structure collapsed, sending smoke and debris hurtling into the street.

No major injuries were reported as a result of the blaze, but Snyder volunteer firefighter Michael Alonzo was transported to Cogdell Hospital’s emergency room for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters battled flames for several hours, trying to save surrounding structures and were successful in keeping the blaze from engulfing the Hugh Boren & Son building -- a historical landmark -- to the north.

Perry Westmoreland, Snyder fire chief, said the insurance building suffered some water damage, but added, “it could have been so much worse.”

“Considering that all of these buildings share walls and some of these actually share attic space, this could have been significantly worse,” the chief said. “If we hadn’t gotten here when we did, this whole side of the square could have gone up.”

The building directly south of Colortyme suffered major damage, but was vacant at the time of the fire.

A third building, two places south of Colortyme, recently occupied by M. M. Mapes Small Appliance Repair, didn’t burn but suffered major water damage.

Flames shot high into the air and brisk winds blew burning embers west to Hidetown Dr., threatening to ignite other buildings in the area.

Snyder firefighters stationed a water cannon on 25th Street to hose the flames from the north and most likely saved Bill Tune’s boot shop, west across the alley from the Hugh Boren building, from burning.

Cy Posey, Snyder fire marshal, said the boot shop’s roof was within seconds of catching fire, but the constant torrent from the fire truck, squelched the flames.

Posey said the department was “able to save about eight different buildings.”

Less than an hour after the original report was made, the square was bustling with hundreds of onlookers who ignored frigid temperatures to watch the firefighters work.

The building, leased by Colortyme and owned by the Boys and Girls Club of Scurry County, was constructed in 1905.

The two-story wooden structure was just over 7,000 square feet and was valued on county tax rolls at about $52,000.

Colortyme manager George Vasquez said this morning “I’ve had better days.”

“We’re grateful that no one was hurt in all of this and I can’t begin to express my gratitude to the firefighters and the community,” Vasquez said while viewing the charred remains of his business. “There was a considerable amount of inventory inside and also quite a bit of cash, but we don’t have an estimate of how much we lost yet.”

Vasquez said the business and its three employees would remain in Snyder.

“We are looking for a place to be back in operation by this afternoon so we can continue to service our clients and our contracts,” he said. “And I’d say within a month, we’ll have a new location and be back to normal here in Snyder.”

Snyder resident Cindy Gill reported the fire. She was driving by with her daughter when they saw smoke in a window and called police.

All Snyder police officers, DPS troopers and sheriff’s deputies also responded to the scene and blocked all entrances to the square.

Westmoreland said late this morning that he has notified the state fire marshal’s office about the fire and is awaiting word from that office on whether they will investigate the fire.

The charred remains of Colortyme Rent-to-Own continued to smolder and smoke Saturday morning, but the site will not be cleared until investigators from the state fire marshal’s office and the ATF are on the scene.

Snyder fire marshal Cy Posey said the investigators will view the damage Monday.

“They have requested that we not pull any more material out of the there for fear of destruction of evidence,” Posey said. “We had to move some in order to completely put the fire out, but the rest will stay until they release the scene.

With thick smoke still rising from the rubble, Posey said people continue to inundate the fire department with calls, but he assured the fire is out.

“There is no danger of the fire spreading,” he said. “We are checking it regularly and still have a hose on site. If it begins smoking too much or if flame emerges, we quickly quench it.”

Posey said the site would continue to smoke until it is cleared.

“You have to remember that we’re talking about a lot of stuff that is still very hot,” he said. “But the investigators want to be standing right there when it is moved, so that’s what we’re waiting on.”

Investigation by the local fire marshal determined the point of origin of the fire was near the back of the building on the second floor. Cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

“What we have determined as where the fire started is consistent with the accounts of the firemen who went into the building early,” he said. “We don’t know what was in that area. We don’t know a cause, but it could be electrical in nature.”

Posey also said preliminary investigation shows no signs of foul play.

The fire was reported at 8:20 p.m. Thursday and all Snyder firefighters and law enforcement officers were dispatched to the square.

Firefighters from Sweetwater, Roscoe, Colorado City and Loraine also responded with men and trucks.

The fire burned through most of the night and could be seen from U.S. 84 more than three miles away.

Posey said the support from local citizens has been “unbelievable.”

“We appreciate the outpouring of appreciation we have received from everyone in town,” he said. “Refreshments were brought to the scene for the firefighters and people were stopping by and saying thanks.

“We can’t thank them enough,” he continued. “We’re there for you. The support has really humbled us.”