UPDATE: Careless disposal of smoking material causes massive Colorado Springs fire

UPDATE: The Colorado Springs fire department said the careless disposal of smoking material caused a massive fire at a Colorado Springs apartment building Tuesday.

Investigators said the fire caused $2.8 million dollars in damage.

The Fire Department would like to remind the public to use caution when disposing of smoking material. It is best to place smoking material in a metal container that has a lid. The container can have water or sand inside to help ensure the embers will be contained and extinguished. Do not use old planter pots which contain potting soil as an ashtray.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The American Red Cross is assisting families displaced by a four-alarm apartment fire Tuesday.

The fire burned Tuesday at the Quail Cove Apartments in the 3300 block of Quail Lake Road. No injuries have been reported. The cause is unknown.

“I saw the big fire, the flames just shooting up on top of the roofs, and flying back and forth uncontrollably,” said Joseph Mascotti who witnessed the fire up close.

“This one really hit my heart because I saw what the devastation did to families and people in my neighborhood.”

Fire crews were combing through the wreckage Wednesday morning. Few items were left behind, all buried in the rubble.

“I would say probably top and bottom are total losses,” said Christopher Tichy.

Residents were not allowed to return to their homes Tuesday night. The Red Cross is assisting the residents of 10 apartments. One apartment was vacant.

“Most of the families received what we call immediate assistance, which is a blank dollar amount that they can spend on any of their needs,” said Dana Goldsmith with the American Red Cross Pikes Peak chapter.

There were nine families total, consisting of 18 residents, displaced by the fire including a woman who’s husband is deployed with the military in Kuwait.

“She was looking to get a message out to him because her apartment happened to be a total loss. She was really upset but was able to get a message out to the soldier,” said Goldsmith.

The Red Cross disaster action team is providing essential immediate needs such as housing, food, blankets, comfort kits, clothing and help refilling medications destroyed by the fire.

“My heart goes out to the people in this neighborhood because they’re my neighbors and for them to come home to nothing,” said Mascotti.

Several pets in the building were rescued, but two cats are still missing.