Fire at Expedition Lodge leads to Felony Arrest Warrants
Estes Park, Colo. On February 27, 2026, at about 8:44 p.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to a fire alarm at the Expedition Lodge, 1701 North Lake Avenue in Estes Park. While units were responding, dispatchers received additional information that flames were visible from the building.
Officers from the Estes Park Police Department, firefighters from the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, assisted by the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority and the Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District, and deputies from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. When they arrived, they found heavy smoke and active fire in the northwest wing of the hotel. Law enforcement officers immediately began evacuating occupants while fire personnel moved in to suppress the fire.
At the time of the incident, about 69 rooms were occupied, with an estimated 197 guests inside the hotel. All occupants were safely evacuated, and no guests or responding personnel were seriously injured.
Fire crews contained and extinguished the fire before it could spread farther into the structure. Investigators determined the fire originated in Room 169, where a propane heater had been placed inside the room. That room sustained total fire damage, and nearby rooms suffered significant damage, along with additional smoke and water damage throughout portions of the hotel. Preliminary damage is estimated at approximately $500,000.
During the initial response, officers contacted Paul Todd Howarth, 72, who was identified as the sole occupant of Room 169. Following an investigation conducted with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, investigators established probable cause to support criminal charges.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Howarth as follows:
Fourth Degree Arson, Business Property Endangered, a Class 2 Felony
Criminal Mischief involving damage between $100,000 and $999,999, a Class 3 Felony
Howarth is known to live in his vehicle, a red and white 1988 Ford F-150 with Colorado license plate CCDY96 and a homemade enclosure in the bed. Recent photos of Howarth and his truck are attached.
If you see Howarth or know where he is, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Estes Park Police Chief Ian Stewart said, “Thanks to the quick actions of our officers, firefighters, dispatchers, paramedics, and partner agencies, nearly 200 guests were evacuated safely, and a very dangerous situation was brought under control. This incident reflects the importance of strong coordination during emergencies, and we are grateful that no lives were lost. We also appreciate the thorough investigative work that helped bring this case forward.”
The Estes Park Police Department and Estes Valley Fire Protection District will continue working with partner agencies as the case moves forward through the judicial process.
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