FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 33
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020
VOLUME 117
75cI
ISSUE 25
ISSUE 48
Tornado wipes out two causes in damage THE S E homes, ASON FO R S H A $500,000 RING BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County officials said the June 7 tornado that started in Firestone caused about $500,000 to businesses and property during its trek through parts of southwest Weld County. Two homes were destroyed, amounting to $429,000 in damage. Three other homes sustained damage to at least 50 percent of the structure, according to county officials. The cost of the damage to those homes is a bit more than $100,000. The tornado also hit two businesses, a feedlot and a dairy. Weld County officials said a fire sparked from a downed power line destroyed one building at the feedlot while another building loss was the direct result of the tornado. Damage to the dairy was limited to the roof, outbuildings and livestock. County officials said the tornado traveled about six miles and was on the ground for about a half-hour. The tornado also blew over some power lines and dislodged at least one piece of plywood that sailed into a tree. No people were injured, but two cattle at the local dairy farm died. The large tornado dropped down near Weld County roads 19 and 28 shortly after 5 p.m. A family drivA roof carried by the tornado barely missed a vehicle on June 7 at the house across from the dairy at 9078 County Road 26. ing home from the class 4A regional PHOTO BY BELEN WARD golf tournament in Greeley had to turn around on U.S. Highway 85 “We were just sitting in the livand wait out the storm in a place of ing room. We came out, and it was safety. literally right here,” McKinney said from in front of his property “I was in the house,” said resident on WCR 28. “We watched it come Mark McKinney. “A buddy I work through. It didn’t sound like a with lives up the road. He called me tornado. It looked more like a dirt and said there was a tornado over devil. But then it intensified, and the top of the house. It just kept getthen there was thunder lightning. it ting bigger and bigger and bigger.” must have lasted 25 minutes.” The storm continued northeast, “It was terrifying,” said Karyn damaging the Cottonwood Dairy Weiner, whose home was in the path on WCR 26 and continuing toward of the tornado when it started. “I Platteville. A storm chaser said two was at my kids’ school over in Fredcows died. erick, picking them up and bringing “Once it left here, it stayed on the them home. I was backing out, saw ground for probably 20 minutes,” Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank provide community the tornado out my back window. McKinney said. members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10thand consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change 4 Change, Then I hopped out took a video.” There was no damage to McKinbut out-2. ney’s home. Down the that street, the with theHer This tornado that touched down in Firestone was visible from parts of northern Adams another organization helps foodhouse drive.survived, See more onher Page tornado impaled a large piece of County and from the Prairie Center. It hit an area near Weld County roads 18 and 29 plywood into a tree. SEE TORNADO, P4 PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH shortly before 5:30 June 7.
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