1 Year Later, Aurora Fire Investigators Working To Solve Deadly Fire
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Aurora Fire investigators are asking for help in finding the suspects responsible for a deadly fire on this day a year ago. One person died when flames swept through an apartment complex on Galena Street and 16th Avenue.
A blaze broke out on the third floor of the Galena Apartments. That's where a man named Oswaldo told CBS4's Rick Sallinger then that he was located.
"The firefighters placed some ladders up to our windows because we live right on the third floor and we were able to climb down just barely in time."
One woman was rescued from the top floor but died later at the hospital.
An owner of the building quickly said the fire was intentionally set, something that was later confirmed by arson investigators. They released this photo of a "person of interest." Look closely. They are pleading for help in identifying him.
"There are people with no shoes, no clothes, We ended giving out shoes and clothes there was a woman talking to the cops she was crying hysterically."
Some residents jumped out their windows to safety late on Oct. 29, 2020. Several people were hurt.
Most of the third floor of the building was destroyed in the two-alarm fire. Approximately 60 people were also displaced.
Lt. Dan Pollet said, "The plea is this affected many people who lived in this building as well as resulted in a tragedy, a fatality, a life was lost families were deeply affected by this."
The building has been rebuilt with many new tenants. The investigation remains active, open and with a financial incentive for help.
"The incentive is to do the right thing; if you have the information to come forward do... these families want some justice, to bring this person to justice and there is this $5,000 reward."
Anyone with information regarding the fire's cause or who recognizes the person of interest in the images is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.
