Colo. Couple Burned, Deadbolt Slows Escape
Source Story by thedenverchannel
LAKEWOOD, Colo. --
A Lakewood man and woman were critically burned early Monday when their escape from a burning home was blocked by a dead-bolted front door and they couldn't find the key, authorities said.
The couple eventually found the key and a good Samaritan neighbor helped them onto the front lawn, a West Metro Fire news release said.
"I was just trying to find a way to get in the house," said Mike Dillon, an 18-year-old neighbor who stopped to help and was about to break a window when the couple found the key. "I dragged the guy over here to this lawn to make sure he was okay."
The victims, who were not identified, were taken to a nearby hospital and then flown to the University of Colorado Hospital burn unit in Aurora, said West Metro Fire Capt. Doug Hutchinson. They remained in critical condition.
"West Metro firefighters remind residents if you are using a deadbolt, keep the key in the lock or near the door," the news release said. "Always know two ways out of every home."
Alerted by a residential fire alarm, firefighters were dispatched to the 8400 block of West Dartmouth Place at about 12:30 a.m., Hutchinson said.
Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames billowing from the split-level home.
The man and woman were in the lower level of the home, reading the newspaper when they smelled smoke, fire officials said. When they went to investigate the source of the smoke, they found their home on fire.
There were reports of an explosion, which was most likely caused by venting of gas from a barbecue's propane tanks, fire officials said.
It took firefighters about 15 minutes to control the blaze, Hutchinson said.
"The home is a complete loss," he said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
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