Boulder County, Colo. - Update April 29, 2025: The Boulder County Coroner’s Office has made a circumstantial identification on the decedent from the Stone Canyon Fire, which started on July 30, 2024.

Human remains were discovered at a single-family home located at 2602 Eagle Ridge Road in unincorporated Boulder County, just outside the Town of Lyons, Colorado. Despite multiple attempts by various DNA analysis providers, no viable DNA samples could be obtained to confirm the identity of the remains.

Based on compelling circumstantial evidence presented to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office by local law enforcement, the decedent’s family, area retailers, financial institutions, and the U.S. government, the Boulder County Coroner, Jeff Martin, has concluded that the remains are believed to be those of Kevin James Tracy, age 74.

The investigation into the wildland fire determined the fire originated from the residence on Eagle Ridge Road, where the fatality occurred, and then spread to surrounding trees, brush, and wildland. The structure fire investigation determined the fire originated inside or around the exterior of the residence or the adjacent shed.

The fire has been classified as undetermined, because the cause of the fire is unknown. Investigators were able to rule out lightening as being a cause of the fire.

The wildland fire investigation was conducted by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s Fire Investigations Branch, and the structure fire investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The investigations were aided by investigators from Aurora Fire Rescue and Lyons Fire Protection District.

The associated Boulder County Sheriff’s Office case numbers are: 24-03843 for the death investigation and 24-03829 for the fire response.

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Previous Press Release: September 11, 2024

Update on the Investigation of the Missing Person, Fatality, and Cause of the Stone Canyon Fire

Boulder County, Colo. - The Stone Canyon Fire, which started on July 30, 2024, outside of the town of Lyons in unincorporated Boulder County, unfortunately resulted in the fatality of one person whose remains were found in the 2600 block of Eagle Ridge Road.

Detectives with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office have one reported missing 74-year-old male, who lived in one of the homes that was destroyed by the fire. Detectives have tracked all leads to find the missing man, but unfortunately, they have not been able to find him.

At the same time, the Boulder County Coroner’s Office is working on identifying the remains of one unidentified person whose remains were found within the fire perimeter. The Coroner’s Office has said that the identification process presents significant challenges due to the condition of the remains. The Coroner’s Office is working closely with forensic experts and law enforcement to address these complexities and expedite the identification process.

We will not automatically conclude that the missing male, and the unidentified person whose remains were found, are one in the same. We will do our due diligence and use all scientific and investigative tools and resources available to us to positively confirm the identity of the remains. We do not want to release the name of the missing man until the identity of the decedent is confirmed, out of respect for the family of the decedent.

The investigation into the cause of the Stone Canyon Fire remains on-going. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has asked for assistance of trained fire investigators, who are still working through evidence, and we are waiting on their reports. Once we have more information, we will release it.

We know that the identification of the person who died in the fire, as well as the cause of the fire, are of great interest to the community, however, we will take all the time needed to ensure that we do not release incorrect information regarding an on-going investigation. Our goal is to conduct a thorough investigation and to be respectful to the family who lost a loved one and to those who lost their homes in the fire.

The associated Boulder County Sheriff's Office case number for the fatality investigation is 24-03843. The case number for the fire investigation and missing person is 24-03829.

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Previous Press Release: August 1, 2024

Update regarding the fatality in the Stone Canyon Fire

Boulder County, Colo. - One fatality has been confirmed to be associated with the Stone Canyon Fire in Boulder County in the 2600 block of Eagle Ridge Road. The human remains were found within a burned structure on that property.

The identification of the decedent will be released by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office once they have ascertained the identity and are able to notify next of kin.

The following agencies are assisting with the investigation: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County Coroner’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Lyons Fire, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and Aurora Fire Rescue.

The investigation is on-going, and this is all the information being released at this time.

The associated Boulder County Sheriff’s Office case number is 24-03843.

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