A late-night blaze on Jan. 29 tore through the Hideaway Kennels in Calhan, the training facility for Rocky Mountain Roosters, killing one dog and badly burning another while destroying the building. Employees and volunteers rushed in and helped get roughly 30 dogs out before the fire could spread across the ranch. The preserve's owners say they plan to rebuild and have launched a fundraiser to thank the volunteer crews that answered the call.
As reported by KRDO, the fire broke out just after midnight and left the kennel a total loss. Staff opened dozens of gates to free most of the dogs. One animal did not survive, and another is in critical care. Owner Brett Axton told the outlet that the fast response from local volunteer departments kept the flames from racing across the rest of the property.
Volunteer Crews Answered the Call
"One of my guides... woke up to smelling some smoke" and found the building already engulfed, Axton told KKTV, describing the blaze as "two stories high of flames." Manager Ben Garcia told the station the interior was saturated with heavy smoke and toxic residue and that one dog suffered first-degree burns and smoke inhalation. KKTV reports that crews from Calhan, Peyton, Elbert, and Simla sent about a dozen trucks, brought the fire under control, and stopped the ranch from burning further.
Owners Redirect Donations To Fire Crews
Instead of asking for money to rebuild, Axton has organized a campaign on GoFundMe called "Thanking Firefighters Who Saved Our Kennels" that will divide any donations equally among the four volunteer departments, the campaign page says. The owners told CBS News Colorado they wanted community support directed to the crews who saved roughly 30 dogs and protected the operation. The fundraiser has drawn local attention as the preserve begins cleanup and recovery.
Rebuilding And Investigation
The hunting preserve has operated in the Calhan area for decades, and the owners say they intend to rebuild the kennel ahead of future seasons. Inspectors have been through the scene but have not yet released a cause for the fire, KRDO reports. For club details and the ranch's GPS address, the Rocky Mountain Roosters website lists the Calhan location and contact information.
If you'd like to help, the GoFundMe campaign lists donation details, and the owners say proceeds will be split equally among the four volunteer departments that responded. For updates on recovery and contact information for the preserve, see the Rocky Mountain Roosters website.
