Three-alarm fire on Springs’ west side ruled accidental

Fire investigators say a fire that burned a complex of five homes on the west side of Colorado Springs Tuesday was an accident.

The fire started around 11:15 a.m. near the intersection of 18th Street and Sheldon Avenue just east of Old Colorado City.

Rachel Frey, manager of the complex, said three of the homes were occupied and two were vacant. She said everyone escaped safely except for Mike Van Dam, the on-site maintenance man who burned his legs while helping residents escape.

“We have an auto shop there, and he was working on some cars, and we think some spilled gasoline may have started the fire,” Frey said. “Two of the units were destroyed.”

Van Dam is recovering at a Denver hospital.

The fire spread quickly and burned intensely in the wooden homes that were built at then-Camp Carson in the 1940s and later moved to their current location. Smoke and flames were so heavy that firefighters could only battle the blaze defensively.

“There could have been numerous obstacles to get in, or too much fire to get in,” said Lt. Fred Varnell of the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

A neighbor, Ron Policy, said he knows two of the affected residents.

“They don’t have any clothes,” he said. “They got out with their dog and some clothes on, that’s all they got.”

One firefighter suffered a twisted ankle.

The Red Cross is helping the remaining seven displaced residents.