Man dies in fall during apartment fire at 38th and Federal

DENVER -- A man fell from a second-story apartment window and died during an apartment fire Wednesday.

The fire started at about 12:45 a.m. at 38th and Federal in Denver.

Witnesses said the man tried to escape the fire by using a window. As he was hanging from the window, witnesses said they tried to get a ladder to him, but it was too short. The man told witnesses his legs were cramping and then he fell and hit the concrete. Firefighters said they tried to revive the man, but he died.

"Earlier in the day he waved and said hi," said Andrea Montoya Mitchell who saw the victim before the fire. "It was really surprising to me."

Firefighters said three people were rescued from a nearby roof. Three others were treated on scene for smoke inhalation.

Emergency crews hit a snag on their way to the fire.

"The address where we were dispatched to was the wrong address," said Melissa Taylor with the Denver fire department. "It was a residence just a few houses down."

Officials said the fire damaged one unit, but there is smoke and water damage in other units. Residents are worried they'll never be allowed back in.

"We have houses that are $725,000," said Mitchell. "Where do you begin? Where are they going to move now?"

The cause of the fire is under investigation.