Colo. Firefighter Rescued After Falling Through Floor
Source Story by thedenverchannel.com
AURORA, Colo. --
A firefighter was injured and five people were rushed to the hospital with smoke inhalation as fire raced through an apartment complex Friday morning.
The fire on Kenton Street and East 1st Avenue was reported shortly after 1 a.m.
"We had heavy smoke and flame on arrival," said Aurora Fire Department Capt. Allen Robnett. "The residents of the affected unit were able to escape prior to our arrival."
With temperatures hovering around 18 degrees, firefighters were concerned about finding a safe place for evacuated residents to stay warm, according to Robnett.
Once the fire was under control, the next challenge was getting firefighters inside the affected units.
"The second crews going in the back, where we had fire, started going through the floors. Then the crews in the interior started seeing that the floors were starting to give way underneath them," said Battalion chief Marty LaRusso.
One firefighter fell through the flooring up to his knees and fellow firefighters had to pull him free, according to LaRusso.
Five people who live in the apartments were transported to the hospital with what was described as "minor smoke related injuries." Three children were among the injured.
The local Red Cross was called in to help those people who are not allowed to return to their homes. It provided food, clothing and other basic needs. The displaced residents were put up in vacant units in the complex.
Red tape now surrounds the entire building.
"That red barrier tape means no firefighters, no police officers, nobody goes past that red tape until we get those floors shored up," said LaRusso.
Investigators will begin their work once the sun comes up. They will be interviewing residents and may bring in a dog from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
"As a father of five and grandfather, the best thing of my day was having a little girl, 7-years-old, come up and just grab me on my arm and hug me and say 'thank you for saving my apartment.' I mean that just made my whole morning," said LaRusso.
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