Firefighters battled flames, smokeand bedbugs — Wednesday morning at a house fire in Denver.
The fire started just after 6 a.m. at 1575 Franklin St., said Lt. Phil Champagne, a Denver Fire Department spokesman.
Firefighters battling the blaze had a hard time because of an attic filled with storage items and debris, including things infested with bedbugs.
“We had to decontaminate members of the fire crews on the scene,” Champagne said.
Thirty-eight firefighters battled the blaze, which took about 45 minutes to put out. The pesky bedbugs, animated by the fire, sought refuge on firefighters, latching onto equipment and gear. Firefighters had to guard against bringing the bugs back to their firehouse.
“Some had to get their gear bagged up to get it decontaminated,” Champagne said.
There were no injuries, but several residents were displaced and are being aided by the American Red Cross. The residence has been deemed “uninhabitable,” Champagne said. Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post; Associated Press file photo
