Family devastated, Colorado Springs home uninhabitable after illegal fireworks cause fire
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A family in Colorado Springs is devastated after illegal fireworks caught their home on fire over the holiday weekend.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) confirms that they responded to a call for the fire just after midnight following the 4th of July celebrations.
CSFD says multiple people called about the fire, which was in the 1200 block of Harrison Road.
The first caller reported that they believed someone drove by the home and shot fireworks in the direction of the house, according to the CSFD. When crews arrived, they found fire coming from the roof and attic.
Less than 30 minutes after arriving on the scene, CSFD said the fire was under control. Despite the timing, CSFD says the home was severely damaged and is uninhabitable.
Hanna Estep, the mother who lived there with her husband and children, tells KRDO13 the entire experience feels surreal, "It just seems like a horrible nightmare. Like, it doesn't seem real," she said.
Estep says a stranger pounded on their front door and warned them to get out. They escaped unharmed but lost everything inside.
"All of their little artwork and stuff that they had done - it's all gone. It was a small house, but it was a house full of love," she said.
She also says her children are shaken by what happened, "They're sad and they're angry. They don't know who did this or why it happened, and they don't feel safe."
One of the family’s cats, Felix, is still missing. Estep says bringing him home would be one small piece of the healing process.
The Colorado Springs Police Department is now investigating the fire as a possible arson and is asking anyone with information to call the non-emergency line at 719-444-7000.
A verified GoFundMe has been set up to help the family rebuild. You can find that link here.
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