Police: Residents of condos burned in fire accounted for
BOULDER» Police and fire officials believe all residents of the condos that were engulfed in flames early Tuesday have been located, but police but will spend the next few days sorting through the wreckage to ensure no one was inside the buildings at the time of the fire.
“We have gone into some of the areas where the fires burned and determined no one else was inside, but just in case there was a transient or someone else inside we are being cautious,” said Boulder spokesperson Sarah Huntley. “We think we are probably in a no-fatality situation but we won’t know 100% until we are able to get into that wreckage.”
Huntley said investigators will spend the next few days sorting through the remaining areas.
Police worked through the night Tuesday to contact all individuals connected to the 81 units in the six buildings at 2301 Pearl St., according to a news release. At noon Wednesday, officers were able to account for all residents.
“This was a tremendously challenging and consuming fire,” Boulder Fire-rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo stated in the release. “I am surprised and relieved to be able to say that it appears we had no deaths.”
The area remains too unstable for residents to access their units or recover property and remains closed to the public.
Boulder police officers were on patrol in the downtown area early Tuesday, and the first officer arrived at 3:35 a.m., two minutes after the first call to dispatch was received, the release said. Officers estimate they were able to access more than 60 units. They were not able to reach the others because of the intensity of the smoke and flames.
Officers had to force entry into several apartments to ensure that all residents were evacuated, the release said.
“Recognizing the danger of the intense, rapidly spreading fire, and without hesitation, our officers ran into the building,” Boulder Deputy Police Chief Steve Redfearn stated in the release. “They encountered heavy smoke, flames and terrified residents. If not for such quick and heroic actions by these officers and our partners, many lives would have likely been lost.”
Officers from the University of Colorado police and deputies with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist with evacuations and the fire scene.
“This was truly an example of public safety partnership,” Calderazzo said. “This fire burned hot and fast. The ability to get people out of harm’s way quickly made all the difference in terms of injuries and lives lost.”
Residents have received temporary housing and support services, largely through the American Red Cross of the Mile High Area, the release said. Individuals wishing to assist the fire victims are asked to donate directly to the Red Cross.
For more information, visit redcross.org/donate, call 1-800-435-7669 or text REDCROSS to 90999. The Red Cross is not accepting clothing donations currently because of the pandemic. Huntley said officials don’t yet know the number of people displaced.
Huntley said firefighters were on scene Wednesday to continue to monitor hot spots.
She said some sprinklers and fire alarms were activated in areas where the fire burned the hottest.
“We believe that helped residents escape safely,” Huntley said.
“They’re not all designed to activate. It depends on how close the sprinklers are to the proximity of the flames.”
In a fire of this size, Huntley said it is not uncommon for the fire department to request Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives services. Huntley said those services had been activated and that ATF was working “side by side” with local investigators.