Fire destroys 2 Colorado TV studios

Fire destroyed the studios of two television stations in a shared building, blocking local broadcasts, officials said Monday.

The fire broke out Sunday morning in the studios of KREX-TV and KFQX-TV. Five people inside escaped safely, but the building was a total loss. Damage was put at about $6 million.

It wasn't clear when the stations, which have separate owners, would broadcast again. KREX is a CBS affiliate and KFQX is a Fox affiliate.

City fire investigators said were still looking into the cause. The building, which was several decades old, did not have a sprinkler system, fire department spokesman Mike Page said.

Investigators could not enter the building during the night because of flare-ups and the danger that the structure would collapse, Page said.

KREX general manager Ron Tillery said it was the first television station in western Colorado. The building that burned had been a former radio station that KREX adapted for TV.

"It is a sad day to see it destroyed that way," Tillery said after looking through the debris for anything salvageable. "We have a chance now to do something unique" with a new building.

No contact numbers were available for KFQX.