Barbecue Accident Sparked Apartment Fire

April 18, 2011 8:53 AM

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Local, News

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) – A barbecue grill that got out of control has left a man burned and four Westminster apartments in bad shape.

Home video taken by Antonio Wint captured the first moments on Sunday of the fire at Cedar Bridge Apartments near 112 and Alcott Street, just east of Federal.

The fire marshal says winds coming out of the west hit the second floor balcony where a man was using an outdoor grill.

Flames then raced up to the third floor and went through the roof.

carving up the roof Barbecue Accident Sparked Apartment Fire

Morgan Stewart of Westminster took this photo of the fire on April 17 at the Cedar Bridge apartments. One person suffered burns in the fire and four units were damaged.

Alexi Huppenthal, a resident said he was sitting on his couch when someone alerted him to the fire.

“This lady comes and knocks on my door and she’s said ‘Fire! Get out, get out’ and I could only grab my keys and my phone and my dog and me and my mom left,” he said.

The man barbecueing has burns on his face and on an arm.

Four apartments have smoke and water damage.

B. Dover

This couldn’t have just been the wind causing this. This person had to have done something extremely stupid, like throwing a bucket of kerosene on the grill. Also, what is that place made of – cardboard?
Lavery

um excuse me but youre wrong! that was my brother and he wasnt doing anything stupid, it was the wind hes not dumb enough to try to start a fire that would burn down his apartment! wanna know how he got the burns? he was saving his girlfriend and trying to save his cats, thank you very much. you really shouldnt be rude and assume things, hes not stupid and hes actually very broken up about this. you werent there you dont know what happened! dont act like you know what happened. k thanks.
mildmannered

I am surprised any municipality allows barbequing on a balcony. It’s an accident waiting to happen and sure enough, it did.
D Delgado

I feel for the Faith who lived below and who lost both her beloved dogs not to mention all her wordly possessions. B Dover, let’s not pass judgement of the fella whose flames got out of control. I can only imgine the remorse he is feeling at this time of grief and pain. Let’s keep everyone involved in our prayers.