West Metro 2nd Alarm Fire

At 13:30 on June 22nd, 2023 Jeffcom dispatched West Metro Fire Rescue to reported structure fire in the 9400 block of W. 14th Ave. in Lakewood. Engine 2 arrived to a multi-family two-story garden level apartment complex with a working structure fire and pulled a 1 3/4 line in for fire attack. Tower 2 arrived and started primary search and Engine 1 established the water supply. District 1 arrived and set-up the command post in the Engine 2 cab in the offensive strategy. Engine 17 arrived and assigned to start search of the Charlie side of the building and Tower 8 secured a secondary water supply to Engine 5. Firefighters worked a deep seeded fire in void spaces and command requested a 2nd alarm. Heavy rains started during the fire and the City of Lakewood activated the outdoor warning sirens because of the potential for highly destructive hail. Command advised crews if heavy hail arrived to seek shelter in their apparatus. Crews continued to work the fire and found the fire in a basement/crawl space area of the apartment building which moved through the void spaces on the lower floor. A mayday was called when firefighters became disoriented in the basement area. All the crews got out safety with no injuries from the RIT group, prompting a withdraw from the structure and defensive operations. One resident was evaluated for smoke inhalation and released. Firefighters rescued a pet snake. A total of 15 people were been displaced and American Red Cross was requested. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Additional information provided West Metro Fire Rescue

Units on Scene:

1st Alarm:

West Metro: District 1, District 2, SAM 1, Engine 2, Tower 2, Engine 1, Medic 1, Medic 2, Engine 17, Engine 5, Engine 3, Tower 8 (RIT) & Bureau 7

2nd Alarm:

West Metro: Engine 4, Engine 16, Medic 17, Engine 6 & Rescue 10 (Reserve Tower)

Arvada Fire Protection District: Battalion 52

Added:

West Metro: Medic 11 (Medical), Air Truck, Bureau 8 & PIO

Special Call:

West Metro: Chief 2 & Special Ops (Drone)

Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood Building Department & Xcel Energy