Community Comes Together To Support Family Whose Home Exploded
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - Friends and neighbors of a family whose home blew up in Castle Rock came together on Sunday to support them with a fundraiser.
The explosion at 6942 Sulfur Lane destroyed the home of Jimmy Martinez, a lieutenant with Denver Police. The home is considered a total loss, but Martinez says he feels like the luckiest man on earth.
Martinez wasn't home at the time of the explosion, but his wife and four adopted children were on the second floor and managed to escape.
A natural gas leak is suspected of triggering the blast, which happened in the basement.
"When I looked at the devastation of that house, I cried when I got there because I saw where my wife and my children had been," Martinez told CBS4 on Sunday at the fundraiser. "And to realize they had been there when it exploded? When you hear them recount the story of what took place and what was going through their minds -- the fears and everything else -- and then you just look at it like 'My god' not only did they survive, they are relatively unhurt. It's pretty amazing."
Martinez said that among the things that were lost when the home was leveled were his sons' Denver Broncos collections.
Martinez said he and his family are hoping to work things out with their insurance company this week but are still needing help in the short term. The Red Cross also provided some help.
"One thing my kids need to walk away from this is how important it is to give yourself to others because we have learned firsthand just how giving people are," Martinez said. "It's been an amazing experience, not just for this event but the outpouring of support we've had has just been incredible."
If you would like to help the Martinez family a fund has been set up at the Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement Credit Union.
