A woman fled an early-morning blaze that destroyed her Northglenn home after she was awakened by her dog’s barking early today.
Debbie Hopewell, 51, ran from the house at 115 Linda Sue Lane with the dog, said North Metro Fire Rescue spokeswoman Wendy Forbes.
“She was asleep when it originated. It is very lucky she had a couple of dogs as well as a cat and one of the dogs woke her up,” Forbes said.
The cat and the barking dog survived. A second dog died in the blaze.
Hopewell, who is staying with a friend in the neighborhood, couldn’t be reached for comment.
The fire started on the main floor of the single-family home, which has a basement.
Seventeen firefighters worked to contain the fire, which engulfed the one-story house.
There were no smoke alarms in the home, Forbes said.
“Hearing that one of our fire-district residents did not have a smoke alarm in her home is very disturbing,” Forbes said. “It is sad that this woman has lost her possessions, yet we are incredibly relieved that she also didn’t lose her life.”
Hopewell doesn’t have homeowner’s insurance. “Whatever she does, her losses will be significant,” Forbes said.
North Metro Fire investigators are trying to determine what caused the fire.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
