A person and their cat died after a fire broke out in an apartment unit in the 1000 block of Cunningham Drive in Fort Collins on Tuesday, sending firefighters into thick smoke to search for anyone trapped inside. All eight units in the affected building were evacuated as crews worked to reach the blaze, but the resident pulled from a smoke-filled apartment could not be saved.
Poudre Fire Authority crews responded to reports of smoke and odor at the apartment complex near West Horsetooth Road and South Shields Street, according to the Denver Gazette. The KDVR reports that firefighters pulled one person from an apartment while battling thick smoke. The complex, identified as building F, contains eight units numbered one through eight, all of which were cleared while crews battled through the smoke.
Resident, Cat Both Lost Despite Rescue Efforts
The person pulled from the apartment died despite CPR and other lifesaving measures, Poudre Fire Authority reported, per the Denver Gazette. A cat was also found dead in the same unit. No one else was reported hurt in the fire, KDVR notes.
Poudre Fire Authority also released a statement following the fire: “Our hearts and thoughts are with all those affected by the loss,” according to the Denver Gazette's report. As of Wednesday afternoon, the identity of the person who died had not been released.
Cause Still Under Investigation
Officials have not determined what sparked the fire, KDVR reports. The Coloradoan additionally reports that the PulsePoint emergency-tracking app showed Poudre Fire Authority responding to the area at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
No further details about the extent of damage to the building or the condition of the other seven units have been released. Fort Collins residents near Horsetooth Road and Shields Street are likely to see continued fire department activity in the area as the investigation into the blaze's cause continues.
