A fire broke out just after midnight on Tuesday morning at the historic Sugar Mill factory, in Longmont. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said that fire apparatus from the Mountain View Fire Department and Longmont Fire Department responded and found the two-story building fully engulfed.
Due to “hazardous materials and conditions,” potentially referring to the presence of asbestos and an already-unstable structure, the sheriff’s office said that fire personnel monitored and let the fire burn throughout the night.
In 2023, the Colorado Sun reported that “impromptu meth labs inside the factory — along with structural deterioration — have helped create conditions so hazardous, Mountain View fire crews will not enter the structure to fight a fire unless someone’s life is in danger.”
At around 6:30 a.m., firefighters began finally using water to extinguish the fire. A video shared by Brian Sherrod of CBS News at around 6:44 a.m. showed the factory smoking, but with flames almost fully extinguished.
Part of the Sugar Mill factory was fully destroyed by the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Built in 1903 and later known as the Great Western Sugar Company, the factory was a cornerstone of Longmont’s economy for decades, producing granulated sugar and animal feed from beet pulp. The Colorado Sun reported that at one point, the factory produced more than a million pounds of sugar a day and employed hundreds of workers during its 70 years in service. It was referred to as “The Mother of Longmont.”
In 2023, the Colorado Sun reported on a proposal that suggested transforming the historic Longmont sugar mill into a performing arts center, preserving its legacy while revitalizing the site for cultural events, performances, and community gatherings. The estimated cost for converting the sugar mill was around $50 million, with drawbacks including concerns over funding, potential gentrification, and balancing historic preservation with modern needs.
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