AURORA, Colo. — At least 50 people have been displaced, and 24 units impacted after a fire tore through a three-story apartment complex Monday.
Crews from the Aurora Fire Rescue responded to the Greensview Apartments, located at 16203 E. Alameda Place, around 3 PM.
AFR said crews encountered heavy smoke and flames in the attic, where the fire spread through multiple units.
Resident Stephanie Cobb was home when she first noticed something was wrong.
"I walked on my deck, and it was totally engulfed in flames," Cobb said.
Neighbors Jayceon Smith and Savannah Leal were playing outside when they spotted the fire.
"We're like, 'Oh my God, what's happening?' then all we see is smoke," Smith said.
► Watch Adria Iraheta's report in the video below:
The two sprang into action to alert residents before firefighters arrived.
"Me and [Jayceon's] mom went over there, and I banged on the first door, and then she banged on every single other door," Leal told Denver7.
By the time the Aurora Fire Department arrived, all three floors were burning. Aurora Fire Department spokesperson Eric Hurst said the scale of the fire required significant resources.
As the fire spread into the attic, Cobb described watching crews struggle to contain it.
"Every time that they're spraying, the fire just keeps spreading. When it's getting oxygen, it keeps spreading," Cobb said.
It took about two hours to get the blaze under control. AFR said the heat made conditions even more difficult for firefighters.
No one was injured, and all residents were accounted for. Several pets were also rescued.
"We've had several pets that were rescued from the building, including two cats and a snake," Hurst said. "There were also dogs that were evacuated from the residence before firefighters arrived on scene."
"We saved one animal," Smith and Leal told Denver7. "It was a dog."
While some units sustained direct damage, residents in undamaged apartments are also unable to return because utilities to the entire building have been cut off.
The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.
Aurora Fire is still investigating the cause of the fire.
