Fire Kills 1 In Aurora, Sends 12 To Hospitals
AURORA, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - A fire at a three-story apartment building Saturday led to the death of a woman who fell from a second-floor balcony of a staircase, and about a dozen other people were taken to hospitals with injuries including broken legs and sprains, authorities said.
When crews arrived at the scene at the Aspen Woods Apartments located at 532 North Potomac Street around 6 a.m. Saturday, an escape staircase was in flames, and residents were on balconies looking for a way down, Aurora Fire Department Capt. Allen Robnett said.
Firefighters rescued about 10 people using ladders from the ground.
Robnett said it was not clear how the woman who died fell. Police have identified her as Karen Dias, 66. Witnesses said Dias jumped from a balcony with her son.
"Karen and her son jumped and we seen them hit the ground," witness Renee Manzanares said. "They got to the second floor. The stairs, there was no way they were getting down the stairs. So they jumped and they hit the concrete. He broke both of his legs and she; I guess her body couldn't take it. She died."
Some of those who went to hospitals were injured trying to escape the building or hand people to rescuers, while others were hurt helping people down, Robnett said.
Three police officers who helped with the rescues were admitted to hospitals with neck, back and ankle injuries, Robnett said. They were treated and released.
Of residents taken to hospitals, one was critically injured, Robnett said. The injured included children, but he didn't know how many.
The Aurora Police Department became involved with the investigation at the request of Aurora fire because the circumstances of the fire are suspicious.
"A search warrant was served on the apartment where the fire is believed to have started," Sgt. Cassidee Carlson with Aurora police said in a statement.
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
