WESTMINSTER — One resident remains unaccounted for following the fire at a Westminster apartment complex that killed two people and injured 9 others early Sunday morning, according to the Westminster Fire Department.
The fire was reported at the Westbury Apartments on the 1500 block of West 115th Avenue -- near North Pecos Street and West 116 Avenue -- just after 2 a.m. Sunday.
When fire crews arrived, the building was fully engulfed and several people were trying to escape from the 69-unit building. According to a release from the Westminster Fire Department, "multiple parties jumped from second and third story units" in an effort to get out of the building. Others were rescued by first responders.
Ten people were transported to area hospitals. One person was found dead inside the building while another was pronounced dead at an area hospital. There's no word yet on how they died. Their names have not been released.
Monday morning, the Westminster Fire Department said they did not have any information about the residents taken to the hospital.
The fire was contained to just one building.
A preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, but due to structural instability, investigators are unable to enter the building.
It is not likely that investigation teams will be able to move inside until Monday at the earliest.
About 30 residents were taken by bus to Silver Hills Middle School at 12400 Huron St., where the American Red Cross was on scene. The Red Cross has de-mobilized their operations at the middle school, so any residents still in need of assistance will need to contact the Red Cross directly at 1-800-417-0495.
Maria Donald was home with her children, in an apartment across the street, when the fire started.
“It was insane, you could smell the smoke but you couldn't really see any fire,” she said, describing the early moments. “Then you start hearing windows explode, you could hear people yelling ‘Jump! Jump! I got you!'”
John Wilson also heard the commotion. After working late into the evening, he was still awake in his nearby apartment when he heard people yelling outside. He said some friends and neighbors rallied together a group to knock on doors until first responders arrived.
“We ended up running to doors and knocking on as many doors as we could,” Wilson said. “We had two guys that went up to third floor, I went to the second, and another person was on the bottom floor.”
Lambert P. Lockett, Jr. got a knock on his door. At first, he believed it was a prank, and let it go unanswered.
“The second time someone knocked on my door I said, 'I [have] to go look,'” he said. “Then I go look and law enforcement was there and said – ‘Hey, get out!'”
Lockett said he could feel the fire's heat when he opened his door. He hustled to get out quickly.
“I grabbed my walker. Everything else is replaceable, life is not,” Lockett said. "So I grabbed my walker, I can worry about other things today and tomorrow."
He is staying with his son in Lakewood for now. Safe from the fire, Lockett said he’s now considering all the uncertainty ahead.
“Where am I living? Will I get back into my apartment and get my medication and – I guess my phone?”
Lives were lost and homes destroyed Sunday. But in these moments, neighbors talk about coming together as one community.
“I saw more neighborly things happen last night than I have since I lived here,” Lockett said. “People actually care about other people, and are willing to help other people.”
Wilson and Donald agreed.
“You see all these people that don’t normally get along and they’re from all walks of life and they kind of came together in a different way,” Wilson said. “Maybe not everyone knew what to do, but they did their parts.”
Donald added, “It’s kind of like a family community here, which is really nice.”
Any witnesses to the fire who may have left the scene are asked to contact Westminster Dispatch at 303-658-4360.
Crews from North Metro, Thornton, Arvada and West Metro assisted with firefighting efforts Sunday.
