Site Background
In May 2023, the City of La Junta Department of Building Safety officially categorized the residential structure at 618 Colorado Avenue as a "dangerous building and public nuisance" due to many complaints of trespassing and building damage.
In February 2025, the City of La Junta took ownership of the property. In July 2025, a consultant for the City of La Junta did a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment on the property, which confirmed the presence of friable asbestos-containing materials (ACM) within the structure. A Major Asbestos Spill Notification was filed with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) in light of the ACM's findings.
In an effort to get abatement work done at the property, CDPHE was collaborating with the City of La Junta and its consultant. However, the property was destroyed by fire on September 4, 2025. The City of La Junta reported the incident to CDPHE, submitted an updated Major Asbestos Spill Notification, and asked for support in cleaning up the site. On September 28, 2025, CDPHE requested assistance from the EPA.
