Residents And Cats Escape Burning Apartment, Now Displaced
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Residents in a Lakewood apartment building were able to safely escape from a fire Wednesday morning.
West Metro Fire responded to a call at 4:22 a.m. about flames at West 13th Avenue and Lamar Street, south of Colfax and east of Wadsworth.
Flames were soon out, at 4:39, and by 5:30 a.m. it was deemed under control with 30 firefighters on scene. Flames were contained to the apartment where the fire originated, and smoke damage could be seen above the unit's windows. That apartment is a total loss.
Everyone in the building was evacuated, 12 people according to the fire department, and one was treated for minor smoke inhalation. One woman said she was thankful to get her family out.
"I didn't grab anything, couldn't grab anything, just grabbed what was important which was our daughter," said resident Brittney Bell.
A firefighter helped rescue Bell and her cats, giving them oxygen to recover.
The Red Cross was on scene to provide amenities for those displaced. Others were allowed to return to their units by 6:30 a.m. Bell's family lives in the apartment above the damaged unit but was allowed back in despite the smoke smell.
The cause of the fire is under investigation as Lakewood police talk with residents. Smoking is a possibility.
Friends have set up a GoFundMe account for the Bell family.