1 Remains In Critical Condition After Apartment Fire
By Jeff Todd
DENVER (CBS4) - Residents of the Federal View Apartments returned on Monday to see what they could salvage from their apartments after a fire on Sunday night.
"We're trying to come in to our building for our stuff," said Shirley Munoz who lives on the third floor where the fire broke out. She lives across the hall from the heavily damaged units.
"I just don't know what to expect I've never had a fire or been a part of it," said Megan Murray.
The fire damaged three apartments along the south side of the building on the third floor, and possibly others.
Smoke quickly filled the main hallway that serves all the apartments and some residents had no other choice but to jump out the windows.
"One girl she jumped out the window, another guy jumped out the window and all I heard was 'Catch the baby!' and the baby fell down," Tomasa Dogtail said Sunday night.
"Our neighbors are in the hospital," said Munoz.
Eleven people were taken to the hospital and most were treated for breathing in the smoke.
One person was still in critical condition Monday night. Another was transported to University Hospital from Denver Health Medical Center.
The fire was quickly knocked down, thanks in part to the fact that a fire station is on the opposite corner of West 26th Avenue and Federal Boulevard where the apartments are located.
Many residents of the senior and low income complex are now left wondering when they'll be allowed back in.
"This is a low income apartment so we don't have a lot of funds. Rising costs in Denver have kind of displaced us and now the fire has displaced us from where we're going to go," said Murray.
The American Red Cross helped 15 people with housing Sunday night. They expect more on Monday as some of the patients released from the hospital will still be seeking a place to live.
The Denver Fire Department expects a lengthy investigation. A cause is still not known.
Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.
