When fire broke out at a North Capitol Hill construction site Wednesday afternoon, some workers jumped from the the upper floors of the structure to save their own lives. At least two of them were seriously injured and were stranded close to the burning apartment building before firefighters arrived.
“I heard a guy say, ‘help me!’ ” said John Raife, who was riding his bike near East 18th Avenue and Emerson Street as the fire broke out.
The man was “clearly severely injured and he was trying his best to drag his unconscious buddy away from the building,” Raife said.
Raife jumped off his bike and helped the man drag his friend a safe distance away and then ran to get help. In what seemed like just a few moments, the building was engulfed in flames.
As the fire grew, Raife said the man helped once again drag his buddy to a safer area.
“It was probably the most brave heroic thing I’ve ever seen or possibly will see and without a doubt saved the guy’s life,” Raife said.
Two people were killed in the three-alarm fire that also injured at least six other people. The fire burned so hot that 13 other buildings were damaged and at least 30 cars were destroyed.
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RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Otto
The Denver Fire Department responds as flames engulf a construction project at 1833 Emmerson St. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Otto
The Denver Fire Department responds as flames engulf a construction project at 1833 Emmerson St. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A firefighter with the Denver Fire Department works on putting out car that caught fire at 1833 Emerson from the alley on March 7, 2018 during a construction site fire sending several to the hospital.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
One of the construction crew members looks on with a worried look as Denver Fire engages a construction fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A Denver Police officer talks with the foreman of the construction site that caught fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Otto
The Denver Fire Department responds as flames engulf a construction project at 1833 Emmerson St. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Firefighters from the Denver Fire Department engage a construction fire at 1833 Emerson from an alley on March 7, 2018.
Courtesy of Denver Fire Dept.
Denver Fire Department crews battle a construction site blaze at the corner of 18th and Emerson St. in North Capitol Hill on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
Photo courtesy of Tres Wright
Flames engulf a construction project at 1833 Emerson Ave. in Denver on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People stop to watch as Denver Fire Department responds to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department works on a construction fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department engages a construction fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department works on a construction fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A firefighter with the Denver Fire Department engages a construction fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
Christopher Rickett, The Denver Post
Women walk past a fire in uptown Denver, on March 7, 2018.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
The Denver Fire Department engages a construction fire at 1833 Emerson on March 7, 2018.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
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The Denver Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a construction site at 18th Avenue and Emerson Streeton March 7, 2018 in Denver.
