Aurora – A house fire early Thursday left six people hospitalized, including three police officers, a firefighter and a man found barricaded in a bathroom with self- inflicted stab wounds.
Arson investigators said there are indications the man started the fire at 17980 E. Jarvis Place after he locked himself in the bathroom, Aurora fire Capt. Michael Ackman said.
“The fire was started intentionally,” Ackman said. “While we haven’t made a legal ruling, you can pretty much do the math yourself – there wasn’t a fire when he went into the bathroom, and while he was in there, a fire was started.”
The man’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. He was transported to Aurora South Medical Center for evaluation and was expected to be placed in police custody, Ackman said.
Three police officers who were not identified were treated for minor smoke inhalation and released from an Aurora-area hospital.
Firefighter Stephen VanLiew was hospitalized temporarily when he began suffering a severe headache while fighting the flames, Ackman said.
A woman who owns the house was also treated at Aurora South Medical Center for smoke inhalation and released, Ackman said.
Neighbors said the woman shares the house with two men and was romantically involved with one of them. On several occasions, neighbors have overheard fighting.
Late Wednesday, a neighbor, who declined to be identified, said the man was yelling at the woman, “You’re ditching me,” before the authorities were called.
Firefighters and police were called to the scene about 2:45 a.m. They broke down the bathroom door, Ackman said.
“Because of the smoke and the heat, they were never actually able to go into the bathroom and get him, but he came out on his own when they knocked the door down,” Ackman said.
Firefighters were able to keep the flames contained in the bathroom and the attached master bedroom.
An arson investigator determined the damage to the house to be about $40,000.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
