Weekend blazes in Lakewood and Boulder left two families homeless and prompted the Mile High chapter of the American Red Cross to urge extra caution in preventing fires over the holidays and winter months.
The charity is temporarily feeding, clothing and sheltering the displaced families, said Patricia Demchak Bil linger, media manager for the Red Cross chapter.
Demchak Billinger said cold weather and large gatherings increase the danger for house fires, the most common disaster to which the Red Cross responds.
“You see an uptick as a result of space heaters or other things not meant to be used for heat,” Demchak Billinger said. “Cooking is another major cause of fire. People cooking large amounts of food may not be paying attention, and they leave their food unattended.”
Cluttered chimneys also spark house fires each winter.
The causes of the fires over the weekend remain under investigation.
The Boulder blaze destroyed a rental home on 34th Street late Saturday night. A mother and daughter were displaced.
In Lakewood, 30 people were evacuated from a burning apartment complex at 1388 Garrison St. early Sunday morning.
No one was injured, but one unit — home to a mother, father and two children — was destroyed.
The two-alarm fire also significantly damaged a second unit when the West Metro Fire Department had to cut a hole in the roof to extinguish flames in an attic, said Division Chief Gary Armstrong.
Having a truck nearby likely prevented the fire from spreading, he said.
“One of our engines was leaving another call, and they saw it, so our response time was good,” Armstrong said.
Neither of the families has renters insurance, Demchak Billinger said.
She said she worries about families dropping coverage in an effort to make ends meet.
“It hurts during these economic times, but the cost of replacing everything on your own is worth that $10 or $15 a month,” Demchak Billinger said.
People looking for tips on preventing home fires can visit ColoradoRed .
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com
Staff writer Tom McGhee contributed to this report.
