In the early hours of Thursday, October 9, around 3:30 a.m., a fire tore through the Caribou Village Center in Nederland, destroying much of the mountain town’s main shopping complex. Among the businesses lost were a music shop, laundromat, and yoga studio. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for multiple neighborhoods surrounding the plaza, located on State Highway 119.

At least 20 small businesses, along with the local ecology center, were destroyed or severely damaged. Many animals housed at the ecology center were lost in the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to Nederland Fire Protection District Chief Charlie Schmidtmann, the blaze took roughly three hours to contain due to its intensity. While no fatalities are suspected, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating. Schmidtmann described the incident as a “huge, huge fire” for a town like Nederland.

Claudia Schauffler, owner of The Shop, a new and used clothing store, said she was woken by a call at 4 a.m.

“My first thought was about my boss and employees and how to let everyone know,” she recalled. “I lay there on my bed, unsure what to do next. There’s no playbook for this. No one tells you how to prepare for this day.”

Schauffler opened The Shop after retiring from a healthcare career. It was her first business, and it quickly became a beloved community hub.

“It’s been much more successful than I ever anticipated, for a small business in a small town,” she said.

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Vinnie Montez reported that only The Carousel of Happiness and a nearby coffee shop were spared.

“There has been a lot of loss this morning,” Montez said. “Our hearts go out to the town of Nederland. It’s been a tough morning, but Nederland is a strong community and we’ll get through this.”

A community GoFundMe has been launched to support affected business owners and employees. Donations, now surpassing $229,000, will be distributed equally among those impacted.

“The support we’ve received has been phenomenal,” Schauffler said. “So many neighbors have reached out, offering food and help. My biggest concern is making sure my employees are taken care of.”

Brianna Rashbraum, owner of Spinning Silica Art Collective, said the uncertainty has been overwhelming.

“People keep asking what we’ll do next, but none of us know. It’s hard to rebuild something you spent seven years creating.”

Marianne “Gussie” Walter, who founded Augustina’s Winery 28 years ago, echoed those struggles.

“Getting licensed to sell alcohol is a huge effort. The production process is time-consuming,” she said. “Any funding I get will go toward replacing equipment and possibly finding a new space.”

Caribou Village was home to about two dozen local businesses that generated roughly 30% of Nederland’s economic activity.

“For a lot of these people, it’s not just things. This is their livelihood,” Schmidtmann told Fox News. “This is what they’ve worked their entire lives to build.”

“There was so much history here,” Gussie added. “I keep remembering what’s gone, and I have to remind myself to hold on. My friends, family, and my mom, who always calls to say she has my back, are keeping me strong.”

For Brianna, the loss has been both surreal and painful.

“Even though the support has been amazing, I feel stuck in grief,” she said. “To have my business gone in one quick moment is really discouraging. But I believe art will help us heal.”

She plans to find a temporary space for her supplies and eventually rebuild.

As emergency crews depart and evacuation orders lift, Nederland is shifting from response to recovery. As Claudia put it, “Being there to support everybody is the best thing we can do right now.”

Contribute to the GoFundMe here.

Businesses affected by the Caribou Village Center fire:

• Nederland Chiropractic and Wellness

• Tres Gringos Restaurant

• Spinning Silica Art Collective

• O’Neil Rocky Mountain Art

• Kaleidoscope Fine Arts Gallery

• Linda’s Pizza

• Dam Liquor Store

• Tadasana Mountain Yoga

• Mountain Man Outdoor Store

• Very Nice Brewing Company

• Columbine Family Care

• The Laundry Room

• Augustina’s Winery

• Boulder County Sheriff’s Office substation

• The Shop

• Wild Bear Nature Center

• Brightwood Music

• Picasso Hair and Artistry

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