Colorado Springs house fire displaces nine residents
Nine people and two dogs escaped from a burning home in northeast Colorado Springs early Thursday.
Five adults, two teens and one baby were able to get out of their home on the 8300 block of Vaquero Circle, off Meadowland Boulevard, east of North Academy Boulevard, just as the blaze sparked, battalion Chief Jesse Ortiz said.
The fire was reported about 5 a.m. by a neighbor who saw flames and smoke coming from the house’s basement, Ortiz said, and fire crews arrived about 3 minutes later.
“All the residents had gotten themselves out of the house by the time we arrived, and we were able to attack the fire immediately,” Ortiz said.
About two dozen firefighters got the blaze under control within an hour, but fire and smoke damage to the house was considerable, Ortiz said.
Neighboring residences were evacuated, but residents were allowed back in their homes by 6 a.m., fire officials said.
“These are things we consider whenever we approach any fire because we want to keep it contained to one house and keep it from growing,” Ortiz said. “Luckily, we got here quickly this morning, we were able to get the flames doused right away, and there was no danger to neighbors.”
Ortiz said the fire may have begun in the basement, but fire investigators had not determined how it started.
With help from the Red Cross, the residents of the home have been given temporary lodging at the Airport Value Inn & Suites Hotel.
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Contact Andrea Sinclair: 636-0235
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Firefighters inside a home Thursday morning in Colorado Springs. Five adults, two teens and one baby got out just in time from their home on the 8300 block of Vaquero Circle, off Meadowland Boulevard and east of North Academy Boulevard. Photo by Andrea Sinclair, The Gazette.
Firefighters inside a home Thursday morning in Colorado Springs. Five adults, two teens and one baby got out just in time from their home on the 8300 block of Vaquero Circle, off Meadowland Boulevard and east of North Academy Boulevard. Photo by Andrea Sinclair, The Gazette.