2 Critically Injured After Getting Trapped In Colfax Motel Fire
DENVER (CBS4) - Two people were hurt in a fire at a motel on West Colfax Avenue on Tuesday morning.
Both a man and a woman were rushed to the hospital where they were listed in critical condition. They sustained burn injuries and suffered smoke inhalation in the fire.
Firefighters arrived at the fire at Motel Bar X located at 5001 West Colfax Avenue at approximately 9:20 a.m. The fire was extinguished by 10:45 a.m.
Approximately nine units were damaged by the smoke and flames, and at least three people were displaced.
The cause of the fire is being investigated. It started in one of the second story units.
The owner tried to contain the fire while calling 911 at the same time.
"Nothing I've experienced before. I've never been through this before. It was really frightening and a lot was going through my head and the first thing that went through my head was 'Put the fire out' and I tried but it just wouldn't go out," said Motel Bar X owner Jin Yuk.
"What was nice about today's stop was our crews got on scene quickly and got the fire knocked and we were able to save this whole adjacent building that's attached to the fire building," said Denver Fire Deparment spokeswoman Melissa Taylor.
Taylor later told CBS4 investigators found fire code violations on the property while looking for the cause, which remains under investigation.
"Investigators uncovered numerous fire code violations that would point to a lack of an adequate maintenance protocol," Taylor said.
But Taylor said it's not currently a criminal investigation and not currently considered suspicious.
The American Red Cross is assisting people displaced by the fire. The cause remains under investigation.