Bear Breaks Into Colorado Home and Starts Kitchen Fire

A bear entered a home in Mount Crested Butte, Colorado, on Aug. 19 and caused enough damage to start a fire in the kitchen, the Crested Butte Fire Protection District reported. Two people were inside when the animal forced its way through a door and broke through a glass pane in the entryway. Once indoors, the bear damaged shelving, furniture and window coverings in the entryway and living room before moving into the kitchen. There, it tore apart a refrigerator, spread trash across the floor and broke a wooden dish-drying rack. Fire officials said the rack landed on an electric stovetop that had been turned on at some point during the incident. It then caught fire, filling the home with smoke. The residents called 911 and reported that the bear was scratching at their bedroom door. When police arrived, the animal was trying to break through a living room window. Officials said officers euthanized the bear because of its aggressive behavior, the active fire and limited access to the residence. The kitchen fire was extinguished, and firefighters later arrived to confirm that it was out. The report did not state whether anyone inside the home was injured. The residents told officials that a bear had entered the home at least once before. However, the fire district said local emergency agencies had not previously responded to a call involving a bear starting a fire after getting inside a residence.