Aurora Fire Kills Child, Injures Eight: Fire Department

AURORA, CO — Firefighters responded to a second alarm fire in a three-story apartment building on E. Evans Ave. early Monday morning. The fire was under control by 2:34 a.m., officials said.

Firefighters had to perform multiple rescues to get everyone out of the building. Of those rescued, medics on the scene evaluated nine injured people. Six of them refused treatment and three were brought to local hospitals, the Aurora Fire Department said in a Twitter thread.

The department reported just before 3:30 a.m. that a child who had been rescued and brought to a hospital had "succumbed to their injuries." The department said that the blaze "is now a fatal fire," and "no additional updates will be released at this time about this or any other victims."

The department said 31 residents were displaced by the fire.

The Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming arrived on the scene just before 3 a.m. to provide immediate assistance.

"We have five disaster action team volunteers on-site," The Red Cross said on Twitter. "They will be providing immediate assistance like blankets and water. The Red Cross will also provide mental health & health services."

"Other services that may be provided include shelter and recovery casework," the organization added.

The fire department reported that in addition to the damage to the building itself, stairwells on "both sides of the structure "experienced "failures." In total, twelve units were damaged by the fire, according to a news release from the department.

The department said that investigations into the fire were ongoing and are likely to last into the coming days, according to the news release.

“Our community has suffered a tragic loss and the entire Aurora Fire Rescue family is deeply saddened by this incident,” Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Fernando Gray, Sr said. “We are committed to providing any and all assistance to those impacted and displaced by this fire, and especially to those who are grieving today. A complete and thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the origin and cause of the fire.”

The department encourages anyone with information pertaining to the fire to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867.