Aurora police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the arsonist who set an apartment building on fire this morning, injuring three people.
Police officers were the first to spot the blaze in the eight-unit apartment building in the 2300 block of Emporia Street at about 1:45 a.m.
As officers approached, one person leaped out a window from the burning building.
An officer kicked in a door and found a badly injured man, whom the officer managed to drag to safety.
Three people were taken to local hospitals with injuries, the fire department said. Two of them had minor injuries and one was in serious condition this afternoon, said Capt. Allen Robnett, spokesman for the Aurora Fire Department.
No firefighters or police officers were injured.
The blaze is being investigated by Aurora’s major crimes unit and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which used a dog capable of sniffing out fire-starting materials.
The dog found several locations where fires appeared to have been set, leading investigators to suspect arson, according to Aurora police.
Anyone with information can call Aurora investigators at 303-739-6213.
At least 17 people were displaced by the fire and the American Red Cross is supplying food, clothing, counseling and hotel rooms for at least 10 of the victims, the organization said.
