3-alarm fire engulfs apartment building

FORT COLLINS - Residents of 16 apartments were evacuated Friday night when a massive three-alarm fire broke out just before 8 p.m. at the Brookview Apartments at the corner of Stuart and Welch streets.

With flames visible from across nearby Edora Park, the fire burned one eight-unit apartment building, Fort Collins Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom DeMint said.

Seven fire engines responded to the blaze as residents from the burning building and one adjacent building were evacuated to the parking lot of Riffenburgh Elementary School across the street, he said. Arrangements were being made for evacuees to be sheltered for the night, he said.

One person suffered minor injuries, he said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Friday night.

A total of 16 units were affected. Colorado State University was helping on Friday night because many people who live in the complex are apparently CSU students.

Lonnie Thomas, who lives in the building that burned, said she saw the reflection of fire on her patio, and then "it was just pouring out from two (apartments) over and one above.

"I ran out and yelled, 'Fire!' and ran back in and got my stuff," she said.

Jessica Rivas, who lives across the apartment complex courtyard from the building that burned, said she thought she saw the fire spread from a barbeque grill.

"My husband looked out the window and saw flames jumping," she said.