LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Around 30 people were displaced after an apartment fire broke out Saturday morning in Lakewood.
According to West Metro Fire, the blaze was reported at a complex near W. 13th Avenue and Lamar Street.
The upper units were damaged by fire with other units in the building suffering smoke and water damage, said the fire department. In total, 10 units were impacted with two destroyed.
Firefighters rescued three cats and a parrot, but one cat died.
West Metro Fire said the cause was an unattended space heater on the wood deck of the second floor end unit.
The fire burned into the attic and through the roof in one area, the department said.
The fire rekindled Saturday night, which the fire department explained can rarely happen.
"The original fire left more than a foot of burned and collapsed debris on the floor of two adjacent apartments," a spokesperson said. "Our crews did multiple checks before clearing the scene: they searched the unit visually, overhauled burned material, and used a thermal imaging camera to look for hidden hot spots, as well as, applied additional water to areas of concern. In the hours afterword, we had a crew drive by, stop, and check the area again to make sure conditions were still stable. Even with that level of attention, a rekindle can still happen in rare cases."
The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.
On Friday afternoon, Denver7 spoke with John Seward, spokesperson for the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. They are providing emergency shelter and resources, long-term housing support for those in the destroyed units, and will coordinate with landlords, insurance and local agencies, he explained.
If you are using a space heater as temperatures around Colorado begin to dip, keep these safety precautions in mind:
- Never leave them attended or near flammable materials
- Don't operate them on decks
- Check and maintain smoke detectors
“Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready," Seward said.
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