JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Five people were taken to hospitals after a house caught fire Saturday morning in Jefferson County.
The fire was reported at a home in the 12200 block of South Styve Road, which is just north of Highway 285 and just west of Kings Valley Drive west of Conifer. The fire spread from the house to some land on the property but crews said that was contained at around a half-acre in size. Crews said on Saturday afternoon they do not yet know how this fire started but they did get reports of small explosions occurring near the home.
Elk Creek Fire officials said those five people were sent to the hospital with either smoke inhalation or minor injuries. That number included two Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies that were first to arrive on scene and got the homeowners out of the house.
Those two people inside the home were also transported as well as a 9-month-old infant from a home next door to the house that caught fire. The baby's mother, Maleah Morgan said her child fell out of his walker.
"He was in his little walker and then things started shifting around, glass was breaking and then our little thing that blocks off the stairs moved and shifted. And he fell down the stairs trying to look for the glass and I was barely a few feet away from catching him and he went over and he was upside down in his walker," Morgan explained.
"When I found him the whole house was shaking and explosions [were happening] and I felt something happening in the garage and then I called 911."
Morgan said she did not even know about the fire until she spoke to the 911 operator and stepped outside of her home and heard her neighbors yelling to evacuate. Morgan's baby was taken to the hospital, assessed and released. He is expected to be OK.
Officials said the home involved appears to be a total loss.
Fire crews want to make sure people remain vigilant as the area sees high temperatures this weekend.
"Whether you’re seeing this broadcast here in Conifer or whether you’re seeing it down in Denver where we know it’s even hotter fires are happening," Elk Creek Fire public information officer, Bethany Urban, said. "Be really careful with anything that can cause flames. They’re drying out and getting ready to burn."
Urban said the two Jefferson County deputies that were transported have since been released. Urban said all five individuals sent to the hospital are expected to be OK.
Two homes nearby were briefly evacuated, the sheriff's office said. Investigators were on scene Saturday afternoon trying to figure out the cause of the fire.
Elk Creek Fire officials tell 9NEWS this is the second fire they responded to this week that turned into a wildland fire so they urge people to be careful.
