Two fires were ignited by smokers at large retirement centers within 11 minutes of each other early this morning, straining fire fighting resources. One woman was critically burned, officials say.
At 2:46 a.m., a fire broke out at Golden Manor, a retirement complex at 4600 W. Colfax Ave., said Phil Champagne, spokesman of the Denver Fire Department.
Then at 2:57 a.m., a woman in her 60s on oxygen ignited a fire in her 16th floor apartment at Metro Manor at Quitman Street and 15th Avenue, according to Champagne and a night manager of the 192-apartment retirement high rise.
Five other people were transported from the 18-story building to hospitals, officials say. They were not severely injured.
A couple who were living at Golden Manor were treated for non-life threatening injuries, Champagne said. The fire caused significant damage, he said.
When a single 8-man crew arrived at Metro Manor, they fought an intense blaze in thick smoke, Champagne said.
“They went to work and did a tremendous job with limited resources,” he said.
The firefighters contained the fire to the one apartment, Champagne said. The flames could have easily spread throughout the building, he said.
The woman, who they found in a stairwell, was taken to University of Colorado Hospital’s burn center with severe burns, said Cindy Salvador, night manager of Metro Manor.
“It could have been much worse,” she said.
The building was evacuated and residents were taken to a Holiday Inn, Salvador said.
Champagne warned that oxygen machines can increase the risk of fire. All it takes is a small ember from a cigarette to ignite a fire that — fed with the rich oxygen source — grows rapidly, he said.
Denver has had about seven fires this year that were started by smokers using oxygen machines, he said.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
