Woman Jumps From Window To Escape Flames In 2-Alarm Fire

DENVER (CBS4) - Firefighters in Denver rushed to battle a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex on Friday morning where one woman jumped from a window to escape the flames.

"It was an inferno," said resident Jonathan Ring, who took cellphone video of the fire.

Firefighters received a call at 8:50 a.m. Friday to the Green Leaf Oaks complex located at 425 S. Galena Way.

"I woke up to windows shattering, explosions. I heard people screaming," said Ring. "I looked out my window and I could see the shadow of the smoke so that's when I tried to get out of my room. It was hot."

Some tenants were trapped inside their apartments.

"I actually heard (a man) yelling for help. And that's when the fire department got on top of the roof and they were trying to get through the roof," said Ring.

When firefighters arrived they saw smoke and flames pouring from the windows of three units and flames rising about 30 feet from the roof.

"We pulled (a woman) out through the window and dragged her off over to here," said resident Robert Bilbrey. "It just happened so fast. I mean, I walked inside for one second, and then walked out. Everything was on fire, and everything was all smoky and black."

He said the woman they rescued appeared to be injured severely, but she was able to communicate with him.

Three injured in the fire were treated. One victim with burns to her face and body was taken to University Hospital, while one man suffering from smoke inhalation was taken to Aurora South Medical Center. A third patient was being treated at the scene by paramedics.

Three units were fully involved and another unit was partially damaged. One of the units was unoccupied.

There were reports that at least one person jumped from a window to escape the flames.

"Initial reports were that people were evacuating or jumping out of the windows to escape from the fire," said Denver Fire Department Capt. Greg Pixley.

He confirmed one woman did jump from a second-floor window to escape the flames.

"It was reported that one of those injured was a burn victim," said Pixley.

"At this point we actually can't link the person who jumped with the person who was transported. We're not sure if any injuries were actually sustained," said Denver Health Paramedic Chief Scott Bookman.

Crews checked the ceilings of those units on fire once they were able to get inside.

"Our companies fought an aggressive fire tact for at least 10 minutes before they were able to control the fire," said Pixley.

It took them about 30 minutes to get the fire under control.

"We have extensive damage and we are still working to eliminate pockets of fire so we can make sure it's extinguished," said Pixley.

What caused the fire is still being investigated.

The Red Cross is working to help three families who were displaced because of the fire.