AURORA, Colo. — A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and is facing arson charges after at least 10 "suspicious" fires were reported in Aurora overnight, according to a spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department (APD).
While the causes of the fires were still under investigation, it was believed they were all connected, Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) said.
AFR first tweeted about the multiple fires just before 1 a.m. and said they involved dumpsters, fields and buildings in the area of Iliff Avenue and Peoria Street.
One fire was reported at Conifer Creek Apartments near South Racine Way and South Quentin Way.
Laura Flores felt the heat from inside her apartment. She woke her husband and his four family members who were visiting and staying the night.
“I just started screaming like everybody to get out of the house," Flores said. "I grabbed my dog, all the family and we went downstairs.”
Flores said it appeared the fire started in the bushes outside the building and spread up the walls.
Ten residents and several pets were displaced, but no injuries were reported. The American Red Cross was assisting the affected residents.
On Wednesday morning, neighbors pointed out the remnants of several small fires outside the Willowridge Townhomes near East Pacific Circle and South Troy Way.
Wesley Lyle said smoke was pouring down the block early Wednesday morning.
"I noticed a bush in front of my house was going up like a Christmas tree," Lyle said.
Lyle grabbed the hose from his house, hooked it up and started spraying water on the fire just feet from his front door.
“The way the wind was blowing, it was blowing the smoke away from where I was," Lyle said.
Lyle took care of the fire outside his home as fire crews handled the rest. Lyle was relieved to hear police had made an arrest. He still doesn't understand why anyone would want to set fires in his neighborhood.
“Yeah, it makes me sad," he said. "I mean, what a thing to spend your time doing.”
Just after 2 a.m., AFR said they were mopping up the fire scenes.
The suspect arrested is a 17-year-old boy and due to his age, APD said they were unable to release any other information at this time. He's facing first-degree arson charges, according to APD.
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