ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — Investigators have determined that a weekend fire that killed one person and sent three others to the hospital was human-caused.
South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) and Arapahoe County Sheriff's deputies said the fire at the apartment building located at 2380 S. Quebec St. was "incendiary in nature."
A resident in the building called 911 at 4 a.m. Saturday, fire officials said. When crews arrived minutes later, fire had consumed the hallways on the second and third floors, and both stairwells which trapped residents inside the building, officials said.
Some residents were forced to jump from upper floors to escape, SMFR said. Fire crews used ladders to help rescue people from their balconies.
During a search of the building, firefighters found two people and rushed them out of the building. One of those people died and the other was taken to a hospital in critical condition, SMFR said. Family members identify the man who died as 28-year-old Hayden Warlick.
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Two residents from a nearby building suffered smoke inhalation and were also taken to a hospital.
People living 23 apartments were displaced by Saturday's fire, SMFR said.
SMFR said there was another fire on March 1, 2022 at Ivy Crossing Apartments was also human-caused and incendiary in nature. Ivy Crossing is less than a half-mile away from Saturday's fire. Officials said they do not know if the fires are related.
South Metro is asking anyone who might have information about these fires to call 1-877-892-7766. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $5,000, SMFR said.
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