PHOTOS: One Injured As Fire Damages Springs Condos
By Sean Hausers.hauser@krdo.comFollow Me On Twitter @ http://twitter.com/SeanHauser
COLORADO SPRINGS- Fire fighters are still cleaning up after a 3-alarm fire swept through the Stepping Stones Complex late Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to determine exactly what caused it.
The fire destroyed at least 6 units, and an additional 10 suffered severe smoke and water damage. There were no major injuries reported. A 63-year-old woman was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and is in stable condition.
The blaze broke out just before 4:00 pm Sunday at the complex near 19th St. and Uintah. Witnesses tell NEWSCHANNEL 13 the scene was chaotic. People were racing to make sure their neighbors were able to get out, meanwhile severalothers grabbed their cameras.
“I’ve never seen so much fire and flames in my life,” said Ron Werstler. “It just spread so fast and I got my camera and started filming.”
Werstler had just pulled up to his son’s condo building when he noticed a small fire. Within seconds he says the building was fully engulfed. Ron kept his camera rolling as the flames grew more intense before fire fighters arrived. Minutes after the blaze started you can see a large fireball explode out of the building.
“Fire fighters arrived in about 5 minutes, tried to make a quick attack, unfortunately the fire did spread.” said Lt. Julie Stone with the Colorado Springs F.D.
While Ron shot the video, his son Bradley went to make sure his neighbors had escaped. He says after that he grabbed his garden hose to try and soak areas of the building that hadn’t been hit by the flames. But the fire were too intense.
“A lot of people were running around screaming, trying to call the fire department,” said Bradley.
Other people living in the area say the scene looked like it was straight out of a movie.
“I looked out my window and saw smoke everywhere,” said Angie Finnegan.
“I’m just sad my son lost everything,” saidWerster. “Everybody lost everything.”
Residents and fire fighterswere grateful however that only homes were lost, and not lives.
“We feel very fortunate today that we haven’t had any fatalities,” said Lt. Stone.
The Pikes Peak Red Cross arrived on scene shortly after the fire to help the handful of residents who were displaced.
As always, Red Cross is taking donations to help the victims of the fire. Click here for a link to their website, and to donate.
Lt. Stone tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 that investigators hope to determine the cause of the fire by Monday afternoon. Stone say they believe the fire may have started on the deck of one of the condo’s. Fire crews will most likely remain on scene throughout the day Monday.
It is still unclear if or when residents will be able to try and retrieve any belongings from their homes that may have been spared. Fi
We’d like to thank NEWSCHANNEL 13 viewer Nicole Browning for sending us the picture you see with this story.
Stay tuned to NEWSCHANNEL 13 and krdo.com for the latest on this story.
