Two Pueblo firefighters were injured in a two-alarm fire early this morning in an apartment complex that gutted one apartment and caused smoke and water damage to at least six others.
One firefighter was treated for an eye injury and released and a second firefighter received a minor injury, according to a news released by Woody Percival, Pueblo fire spokesman.
A woman and her young son who occupied a third-floor apartment at Bonnymede Apartments, 45 Bonnymede Road were treated for smoke inhalation after the fire broke out in their apartment at 2:08 a.m., Percival said.
It is possible that a lit candle ignited the blaze that gutted B304 and damaged six other apartments, he said. A smoke detector in the apartment was not functioning.
When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting out windows and rolling toward the roof. A second alarm for additional firefighters was immediately sounded, Percival said.
Six engine companies, an aerial company and a heavy rescue company with 29 firefighters and support personnel responded, he said.
All tenants in the 12-unit wing were evacuated, Percival said.
Most possessions were destroyed in the apartment where the fire started, but firefighters recovered two metal boxes of pictures and mementos for the woman and her son.
Considering the potential loss of life and property in complexes such as this, Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Shelton said the swift operation was “phenomenal.”
Some residents were allowed to return to their apartments two hours after the fire.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
