Colorado Firefighter Falls Through Floor at Blaze

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --

A Grand Junction firefighter fell through a floor while battling a large blaze Thursday morning.

The firefighter plunged through the floor at the historic White Hall as a fire ripped through the structure. Mike Page, spokesman for the Grand Junction Fire Department, said the firefighter was not injured after falling a story. He said that his comrades were able to get to him quickly and got him outside.

"He actually worked the rest of the fire," Page said.

The White Hall was destroyed by the large fire. The fire department received a 911 call of smoke showing at 2:41 a.m.

Page said firefighters were greeted by heavy smoke coming from the building when they arrived. Shortly after the firefighter fell through the floor, the fire department was forced to take a defensive position in battling the blaze.

"It got to a point where it was not safe for firefighters to be inside," Page said.

Four Hours To Fight Fire

Page said it took firefighters nearly four hours to contain the fire. He said crews are still at the scene making sure the fire is out.

"We are removing material and making sure it is safe as we go," he said. "So it is going to be a long-term investigation. It was a very significant fire."

Page said investigators were working to determined what caused the fire.

Occupants of a nearby apartment building were evacuated to the library during the fire as a precaution, Page said.

White Hall Was For Sale

Page said nobody was inside the building when the fire ignited. He said that the building was not being used.

According to a records search, the structure had been up for sale for nearly two years.

The White Hall had a history of being used as a church, a performance theater, dance studio, wedding chapel and an office space.

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