Firefighters contained the flames to two of six connected units at Edelweiss condominiums, one of several developments at the ski resort 27 miles north of Durango.

Units 1 and 2 on Shoel Street were heavily damaged from the fire, which occurred less than two weeks after another fire destroyed three downtown Durango businesses.

Unit 3 may have also sustained some damage, said David Abercrombie, Durango Fire & Rescue Authority spokesman.

A firefighter who twisted his knee when he fell on a snow bank suffered the only injury, Abercrombie said.

The fire was reported at 4:51 p.m., after skiers had left for the day. Firefighters gained the upper hand at about 6 p.m.

A ladder truck turned its water pipe off at 6:24 p.m., and the fire was declared out at 6:45 p.m.

A plumber who was soldering in unit 1 caused the fire when a spark landed on insulation, Abercrombie said.

"He used several fire extinguishers trying to put it out but was not successful," Abercrombie said. "At which point, he called the fire department and got out of there."

Abercrombie declined to identify the plumber's employer.

Firefighters wielded as many as four hoses on trucks and on the ground to combat the flames.

At one point, two firefighters on the roof of Unit 2, one using a chain saw, dug a trench to prevent the fire from spreading to Unit 3.

"It's a little bit of a risky move because we're three stories up, and they're not in the safest position right now," said Tom Kaufman, Durango Fire & Rescue Authority fire marshal, while the operation was under way.

Firefighters have discussed staying safe on rooftops since the Main Avenue Fire sent nine firefighters to the hospital Feb. 22, Kaufman said.

The Edelweiss condos were not equipped with sprinklers.

"This is the only area (at Durango Mountain Resort) that we don't have fully sprinklered," Kaufman said. "Unfortunately, these are the results that we get."

Kaufman said he did not know if the condos were inhabited when the fire broke out.

Many of the condos are second homes used by out-of-town skiers.

The Los Pinos Fire Protection District, La Plata County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management Department and Red Cross also responded to the blaze.

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