Man Rescues Children From Burning Home: 'I Didn't Have Time To Be Scared'
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- A man rushed to rescue children from inside a burning home in Lakewood early Tuesday morning. Police have arrested one man they believe set the fire on purpose.
The arson suspect, Christopher Magana, was arrested in Aurora several hours after police detained him for questioning.
Ernie Pena told CBS4 he heard explosions and was shaken out of bed about 3:25 a.m. "I didn't have time to be scared."
When firefighters arrived the home at 5600 West 5th Avenue, the front of the duplex was fully engulfed in flames, as was a vehicle parked in front of the building.
"The whole backyard was full of smoke. You put your hand in front of your face, you couldn't see it," said Pena.
Pena said he broke down the fence and jumped in, handing children to other neighbors over the fence. The youngest child was just 3-months-old. He said he didn't have time to think.
When asked what he thought would have happened if he didn't jump back there, Pena replied, "I don't even want to think about it. My buddy probably would have lost his family."
The explosion Pena heard was the sound of the tires on the vehicle in the driveway bursting in the heat. Initially, investigators couldn't tell where the fire started but quickly suspected it was set on purpose.
Magana, 27, was located in Aurora and detained by Lakewood police officers for questioning Tuesday morning. A few hours later police arrested him on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder and arson.
"Hopefully he gets locked up for a long time because he almost killed 14 people this morning," said neighbor Breanna Trujillo.
Fourteen people including nine adults, four children and a dog, were displaced from the home. Everyone escaped without major injury.
