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| Firefighters douse the blaze Monday morning. Photo by Heather L. Smith |
AURORA | A massive fire that torched three units at an Aurora apartment building Monday started with an unattended pan on a stove top, fire officials said.
Nobody was injured in the blaze, which started around 10:30 a.m. in a first-floor unit at the Wentworth Apartments, 11255 E. Alameda Ave.
Aurora fire spokesman Capt. Al Robnett said that initial reports said when crews arrived, there was fire and smoke coming from all three floors.
Crews rescued three people using a ladder from the balcony, Robnett said.
The fire caused about $250,000 in damage and the burned units will likely have to be gutted, Robnett said.
Wes Watson, 22, who lives across the stairwell from the third-floor unit that burned, said he and his roommate, Delaina Loera, 30, had smelled electrical smoke coming from that unit for a few days. Loera said the smell was so strong in recent days it made her sick.
The pair said they were lucky to get out of the building unharmed with their three pets and Loera’s two children.
Watson said he was surprised nobody was hurt in the blaze.
“We’re really lucky,” he said.
Patricia Demchak Billinger, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter, said there were three families living in the destroyed units. A total of 15people, seven adults and eight children, were displaced.
In addition, there were nine other units that sustained smoke or water damage and may be uninhabitable, she said.
NOTE: Click below for a picture of the blaze from the Aurora Fire Department as well as the department’s news release.
NEWS RELEASE
Aurora Fire Department 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012 303-326-8999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy" June 13, 2011
Apartment fire in Aurora
Aurora Fire Department responded to a report of a kitchen fire at 10:25am in a ground floor unit of the Wentworth Apartments located at 12285 E. Alameda Av.
On arrival, Firefighters found three units extensively involved in fire.
Firefighters conducted an aggressive interior attack. Three residents in adjacent units were rescued using ground ladders.
Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by a pan left unattended on the stove.
No injuries resulted from this incident. Estimated damage is at $250,000.00
Contact: Captain Allen Robnett
Office: 303-326-8961
Cell: 303-941-9031
Fax: 303-326-8986
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