Palisade Fire ruled arson
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Palisade Fire Chief Charles Balke began a press conference Wednesday by expressing his gratitude to the community for their support to the victims. He also acknowledged that a tragedy like this has a long-lasting impact. First responders arrived five minutes after receiving a 911 call about a fully involved fire. Balke says that the fire started in apartment one and quickly spread throughout the building due to the building’s age. Investigators are still unsure what started fire, but Balke believes that it was started by an unknown vapor from apartment one.
Police Chief Jesse Stanford also spoke at the conference and confirmed that only the victim and the resident of apartment one were unaccounted for. He stated that the resident of apartment one posted disturbing Instagram videos admitting he started the fire. Stanford mentioned that the videos claimed a discrepancy between neighbors and the suspect, but this could not be confirmed as actually occurring. The suspect was identified as Drew Aldermen. Police tracked Aldermen’s phone shortly after the fire to a location in Lake County. When Lake County officers arrived, they found Aldermen deceased.
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office confirmed the victim’s identity as 18-year-old Kloey Weythman. Her family has requested privacy during this difficult time. The city of Palisade will be holding a vigil on Friday at the Veterans Memorial Park for the victims.
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