Renter To Accused Arsonist: 'You Put My Family In Danger'

DENVER (CBS4) - When a large fire broke out on Sunday at the Federal View Apartments, Chris Pena and his girlfriend had to do the unthinkable.

Pena told CBS4 he, his girlfriend and their 7-month-old baby were in their apartment when the flames and smoke invaded their room.

"I went to go open the door and right when I went to open it the smoke hit me right in my face," he said.

Pena said his girlfriend, Alyessa, had no choice but to throw the baby, Ava, out of their third floor window.

"The smoke just filled the whole room and it was all black and we were disoriented, we didn't know where we were. My girl kept falling on the floor. It was either let her die from the smoke or let her breathe and live out here," Pena said.

Neighbors grabbed a blanket someone tossed outside and wound up catching Ava in the blanket. She was not harmed.

Pena and his girlfriend then also escaped by jumping out the window. Alyessa wound up fracturing her back.

Eleven people wound up getting hurt in the fire, including a 57-year-old man who appeared in court on Thursday on charges he set the blaze.

CBS4 asked Pena what he would say to the accused arsonist.

"You'd better get locked away from a long time, because you put my family in danger," Pena said.