Lakewood – Elna Johansson was getting ready for bed Friday night when she saw smoke billowing from the bush outside her bedroom window in the Ridgemoor Apartments near Simms Street and West Sixth Avenue.
Within seconds, the bush was on fire and flames were racing up the exterior of the three-story structure.
“Thirty seconds later, the windows blew out,” Johansson said Saturday, after she and her husband, Peter, visited a disaster relief center set up by the Red Cross at Green Mountain High School.
“He managed to grab my purse,” Elna said of the seconds they spent in the burning apartment before making their escape. “It was scary.”
Fireworks caused the blaze that forced the Johanssons and nearly 30 people in 10 other units from their apartments, West Metro Fire investigators said Saturday.
There were no injuries to firefighters or residents, but three cats died from smoke inhalation, said West Metro Fire spokeswoman Micki Trost.
Investigators are trying to find an adult male visitor to Ridgemoor’s building three, at 652 Urban Court, who was seen setting off fireworks next to the structure, Trost said.
“The fireworks ignited brush in front of the building, which in turn ignited the building,” Trost said.
The suspect could be charged with first-degree and second-degree arson, according to West Metro Fire officials.
“They know who it is. We just haven’t been able to locate him,” Trost said.
The fire was reported about 8:30 p.m. and 40 firefighters, using 15 pieces of equipment, had it out by 10:17 p.m. The blaze destroyed three units, including the Johanssons’, and the rest were heavily damaged by smoke and water.
The Johanssons lost nearly all their possessions, Elna said, adding that fire officials told them asbestos that was released in the damaged interior added to the smoke and water contamination.
“I’m hoping I can recover my Swedish crystal,” she said.
Eleven units were occupied at the time of the fire.
“One match on a fireworks fuse caused 11 families to lose all they own,” Trost said, adding that it appeared few if any of the tenants had renters insurance.
Tenants can protect themselves against catastrophic loss by buying renters insurance for as little as $15 a month, she said.
Neighbors had been setting off fireworks – illegally – for days, the Johanssons said.
“It was pop, pop, pop since Tuesday,” said Elna, 74.
Red Cross relief coordinator Jonathan Comyn said his agency had provided emergency food and clothing assistance to residents of eight of the Ridgemoor units and would offer housing help.
The apartment building may be boarded up for up to a month as companies work to clean up the damage, West Metro Fire officials said.
The Johanssons are staying with friends, but Peter, 82, said, “If we ever get another apartment, we’ll get renters insurance.”
