Space heater sparks fire, destroys Lakewood apartment building

DENVER (KDVR) — A fire that started from a space heater destroyed a small apartment building, displaced four people and killed two cats Friday morning.

The fire happened in a small apartment building with five units located near 12th Avenue and Ammons Street. West Metro Fire Rescue said crews were dispatched to the scene at 4:47 a.m.

Two of the units were unoccupied, and West Metro Fire Rescue said an electric space heater in one of the unoccupied units is believed to have caused the fire. The space heater was allegedly being used to keep pipes from freezing.

Firefighters were on the scene within five minutes of being dispatched.

"This was a challenging fire for crews, as there were layers of complete roof structures (not just roofing material), connecting the apartment units. The fire extended into the ceiling and then up through the first roof layer, which allowed it to move through the attic space," WMFR said in a post on X.

The fire caused heavy damage to part of the building when it moved to the attic. A video posted by WMFR on Facebook shows firefighters using a chainsaw to cut an opening in the roof and get water on the fire in that area.

The fire was extinguished and all residents evacuated safely without injuries. However, WMFR said the building was a "total loss."

Four people were displaced, ferrets were rescued from one unit and two cats in one unit died in the fire.