A family renting the house at 3929 South Torrey's Peak Drive in Superior made it out safely during a fast burning, early morning house fire, but the house is considered a total loss.
A Rocky Mountain Fire Department firefighter was injured when glass blew out of the house, requiring four stitches, while two cats are unaccounted for, according to Boulder County Sgt. Vinnie Montez. The cause of the fire, which appeared to start in the basement, is being investigated by Rocky Mountain Fire, he said. The call came in at about 2:30 a.m.
Montez said firefighters were still fighting the fire when he arrived at 6 a.m. and continued to work through the morning to douse hot spots. At noon, the smell of smoke remained heavy in the air. The roof of the house was gone and the interior blackened.
Renting the house was a family of four. Cindy Ullman and Jeffrey Ullman and their 14-year-old son were home when the fire started. An older son was in the mountains for the weekend.
Cindy Ullman said the fire alarm woke them up and her husband began urging everyone to get out. She grabbed her glasses and phone, threw on some clothes and took two steps out of the bedroom to find her house smothered in smoke.
"I couldn't see, couldn't breathe," she said. "I held on to the railing and stumbled down the stairs. It was insane, the fire went so fast."
No one was wearing shoes, she said, and so neighbors brought them some. A coffee shop down the street also gave them free coffee, while her adult daughter — who also lives in Rock Creek — is helping them.
"Everybody was so nice," she said.
Though they have renters' insurance, she said, she doubts it will cover everything they lost.
Torrey's Peak is closed at Indiana as firefighters work to evaluate the structural integrity of the home. Residents of the two houses on either side have been evacuated because of structural concerns, including the possibility that a large chimney could topple.
"There's just stucco holding it up," said Sgt. Montez.
Brian and Caren Shaltakoff and their two-year-old and 8-year-old boys were in the house next door when the fire started. They said they were both awake at 2 a.m. with their 2-year-old, who had a cold, when they heard the sound of glass breaking and shortly after saw flames.
"Within seconds, it engulfed," Caren Shaltakoff said. "By the time we were running down the stairs, the police were knocking on our door."
Outside, she said, the house next door was engulfed in what looked like 100-foot flames. She said she feared her house would be next, but the only damage is from smoke.
"The firefighters were miracle workers," she said.
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Rocky Mountain Fire, Lafayette Fire, Louisville Fire and North Metro Fire responded.
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