MAN PULLED FROM AURORA BLAZE DIES

A man found inside a blazing Aurora home died at a hospital, fire officials said Thursday. The fire broke out in the vicinity of East 22nd Avenue and North Altura Street on Wednesday and the cause was under investigation. No other injuries were reported. Earlier Wednesday, a person died at a fire in an apartment building in Littleton. [Photos: Aurora Fire]

RURAL RESCUE: TRUCKER FREED FROM MANGLED WRECK ON I-70

Rural rescuers freed an injured trucker trapped in the twisted cab of a semi early Thursday on eastbound I-70 near Limon in eastern Colorado, the Limon Ambulance Service said.

Limon Fire and Hugo Fire responded with medics and the trucker was "safely extricated from the vehicle despite challenging conditions" at Mile Marker 364, ambulance officials said

"Incidents like this highlight the strength of interagency collaboration in rural Colorado," officials said. "When seconds matter and resources are limited, teamwork makes all the difference." [Photos: Limon Ambulance]

JUDGE STOPS STATE FROM PUNISHING INMATES WHO DECLINE PRISON JOBS

A Denver judge ruled the Colorado Department of Corrections violated the state’s ban on involuntary servitude following a class action lawsuit from people incarcerated in Colorado, according to Colorado Newsline. 

Judge Sarah B. Wallace said in her ruling that the department cannot threaten or impose isolation for more than two days and cannot charge people with offenses under the prison disciplinary code for refusing to work. Current department policies allowing punishment for refusing to work violate the Colorado Constitution. 

The plaintiffs, led by Harold Mortis, said the state punished incarcerated people who refused to participate in mandatory work programs. Incarcerated people can lose privileges and “earned time,” which accelerates parole eligibility, and can be sent to restrictive housing if they refuse to work. 

MURDER IN COMMERCE CITY: WOMAN FOUND DEAD ON SIDEWALK

UPDATE

A young woman was found murdered early Thursday on a sidewalk in Commerce City, police said.

She suffered head trauma.

A passerby found the woman's body at about 4:30 a.m. in the 6200-block of Glencoe Street, police said. Detectives sought information from neighbors.

[Photo: Commerce City Police]

DOODLES WANDERING ON WESTERN SLOPE

Two friendly male doodles - without collars - were found wandering Wednesday in rural Mesa County off roads B ½ and 28 ½ and taken to the animal shelter. [Photo: Mesa County Lost and Found Pets]

TRUCKER KILLED ON I-76 IN BRIGHTON

A trucker was thrown from his vehicle and fatally injured after it rolled on its side Wednesday on I-76 in Brighton.

Police said: "The initial investigation indicates that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt." He was pronounced dead at Platte Valley Medical Center.

The accident - involving a box truck - occurred on the westbound side of the interstate near East Bromley Lane blocking traffic. The trucker was 24. [Photo: Brighton Fire]

THREE METRO DENVER HOME APPLIANCE FIRES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS

UPDATE

An appliance fire damaged a residence in Aurora on Wednesday night - just hours after appliance fires struck homes in Denver and Jefferson County.

The Aurora appliance fire - near North Fairplay Street and East Montview Avenue - displaced two residents, officials said.

The Denver appliance fire occurred in the Hilltop area. In unincorporated Jefferson County, a dryer fire damaged a home at 5556 West Hinsdale Place, South Metro Fire said.  No injuries were reported in any of the fires.
Denver fire officials said: "Electrical appliance fires can spread rapidly — ensure appliances are properly maintained and never ignore unusual smells, sparks, or tripped breakers."

[Photo: Aurora Fire]

AUTO INJURES PEDESTRIAN AT DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN LITTLETON

A motorist accused of "driving erratically" in the parking lot of South Denver Cardiology at 1000 Southpark Drive in Littleton struck and critically injured a pedestrian on Wednesday, police said. [Photo: Littleton police]

LITTLETON FIRE TRAGEDY: PERSON PULLED FROM FLAMES DIES; MEDICS TRIED TO SAVE LIFE FOR 40 MINUTES

Firefighters and paramedics worked valiantly to revive a person pulled from a burning apartment in Littleton - but the victim died, South Metro Fire said Wednesday.

The blaze broke out shortly before midnight at 5531 South Delaware Street and Littleton police said a "large amount of smoke" was pouring from the apartment when their officers arrived. Fire officials provided this account: "Upon arrival, Engine 11 encountered heavy smoke coming from a garden-level apartment. Fire crews-initiated evacuations of the building, clearing five of the six units. During a primary search, firefighters from Station 12 located and rescued an occupant from the apartment where the fire originated. "Crews immediately began life-saving efforts and continued care on scene for more than 40 minutes. Tragically, despite their efforts, the individual could not be revived."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In a separate incident Wednesday, Aurora firefighters rescued a seriously injured man from a fire in the vicinity of East 22nd Avenue and North Altura Street. [Photos: South Metro Fire]

HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF WEED DUMPED IN WELD COUNTY

 

For the second time in six months, deputies discovered trash bags full of weed in Weld County - and the latest haul totaled 427 pounds, the sheriff's office said Wednesday. The latest mystery discovery was made on Friday the 13th at a dumpster in the 15000-block of Weld County Road 6. The person who called deputies "advised there were more trash bags of a similar nature to the west of the location," the sheriff's office said. "Deputies drove Weld County Road 6 to look for the bags and found approximately six more trash bags containing suspected marijuana leaves." In August, deputies made a similar discovery near Weld County Road 20 and Colorado Boulevard.

[Photo: Weld County sheriff]

DENVER HOUSE FIRE STARTED IN DISH WASHER, NO INJURIES

Denver firefighters battled a house fire that started in a dishwasher on Wednesday.

No injuries were reported in the blaze in the Hilltop area.
Fire officials said: "Chief 3 arrived first on scene with Engine 5, reporting fire in the kitchen area. Engine 19s secured a water supply, and Truck 19 conducted primary and secondary searches — all searches were negative." The officials also said: "Electrical appliance fires can spread rapidly — ensure appliances are properly maintained and never ignore unusual smells, sparks, or tripped breakers." [Photos: Denver Fire Department]

COPS ARREST TWO IN DOZENS OF BURGLARIES TARGETING HISPANIC BUSINESSES

Detectives arrested two suspects in dozens of burglaries targeting Hispanic businesses across the Denver area and seized guns, stolen vehicles and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, the Commerce City Police Department announced Wednesday. The pair are accused of committing at least six high-dollar burglaries in Commerce City and as many as three dozen total across the Denver region. "Thieves began targeting and terrorizing primarily Hispanic businesses back in November, using stolen vehicles to get to the scene of their crimes overnight, then prying or ramming doors to gain entry to our local shops and restaurants," officials said. "They stole safes, broke into ATMs, and in one case even tampered with laundry machines to access the money inside them," officials said. The suspects were arrested Friday.

[Photos: Commerce City police]

DANGEROUS DUST STORMS ON TAP AGAIN

The National Weather Service in Pueblo warned of dust and snow casing "deteriorating conditions" beginning on Wednesday afternoon. Brownout conditions caused a deadly pileup on I-25 Tuesday in Pueblo. Forecasters also issued a Red Flag fire warning.

DEATH COUNT IN I-25 TRAGEDY RISES TO 5

UPDATE

A fifth person died in hospital of injuries sustained in the giant I-25 pileup in Pueblo, the state patrol said Wednesday.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene of Tuesday's crash involving 29 passenger vehicles and seven semis during a dust storm and near zero visibility. Twenty-nine people were transported to hospital.

A motorist told Fox 31: "I’m still in kind of shock. Everything happened so fast."

All the casualties occurred in northbound lanes. Debris was scattered across the interstate. The cleanup went on for more that 13 hours.

The patrol said the deceased victims were Colorado residents.

Governor Jared Polis said: "I’m grateful to the Colorado State Patrol and first responders who worked quickly in dangerous conditions."

[Photo: Colorado State Patrol]

MAN FLEES COPS ON FOOT, TROTS ONTO I-25 IN WESTMINSTER

Officers arrested a trespassing suspect who fled onto I-25 in Westminster and "made it a respectable distance ... just not far enough," police said. He was jailed after the Feb. 7 sprint. [Photo: Westminster police]

MURDER SUSPECT CAUGHT IN RURAL CHEYENNE COUNTY

In rural Cheyenne County in eastern Colorado, deputies stopped a murder suspect Tuesday on Highway 287, the sheriff's office said. The person was arrested without incident. Their auto had been tracked by surveillance cameras. Kiowa County deputies assisted.

OVERNIGHT BLAZE STRIKES APARTMENT BUILDING IN LITTLETON

CLICK FOR UPDATE

Flames and smoke damaged an apartment building late Tuesday in Littleton, displacing residents.

Paramedics treated one person at 5531 South Delaware Street, South Metro Fire said. The cause of the blaze was under investigation. Littleton police said a "large amount of smoke" was pouring from one apartment. [Photo: South Metro Fire]

DENVER COPS SEIZE CREDIT CARD SKIMMER, NARCOTICS

Denver police officers stopped an auto and seized a credit card skimming device, gift cards, a fake ID and a journal with credit card numbers. They also found narcotics and "observed drug paraphernalia in plain view" - and arrested the female driver for investigation of forgery and possession of a controlled substance, officials revealed Tuesday. The incident occurred near East 14th Avenue and North Lafayette Street on Feb 7.

AUTO HITS BICYCLE IN DENVER

A bicycle rider was injured Tuesday night in a collision with an auto near East Evans Avenue and South Broadway Street in Denver, police said. The motorist remained on the scene. No other details were released.

DENVER ICE AGENTS CATCH FUGITIVE MS-13 GANGSTER

ICE agents assigned to the Denver field office arrested a known member the blood-thirsty MS-13 gang, officials said Tuesday.

Carlos Membreno Portillo, a fugitive, was taken into custody Monday in Grand Junction and will be jailed until he is expelled from the U.S.

He's wanted in El Salvador "for aggravated terrorist organization membership," ICE said.

[Photo: ICE Denver]

TUMBLEWEED FORCE HIGHWAY SHUT DOWN

Wind blasts, dust and waves of tumbleweed forced the closure of busy Highway 287 between Lamar in southeast Colorado and the Oklahoma state line on Tuesday. "Visibility is very poor, and the tumbleweed migration is in full swing," Lamar police said.

THOUSANDS OF ACRES ABLAZE IN ELBERT, LINCOLN, MORGAN AND WELD COUNTIES

UPDATE

Wildfires erupted Tuesday as winds blasted northeast Colorado, scorching thousands of acres of farmland in Elbert, Lincoln, Morgan and Weld counties.

Firefighting crews from across the region - as well as the Front Range - raced to the parched prairie to help battle the flames. No serious injuries were reported.

The Elbert County blaze was estimated at between 5,000 and 10,000 acres and forced evacuations. The Lincoln County blaze, pictured here, also forced evacuations.

The fire in Morgan County, near the town of Wiggins along I-76, crossed over from Weld County.

"Because of the selfless and immediate response of our local farmers and ranchers — bringing heavy equipment, tractors with disk and manpower — our fire crews were able to gain containment and protect homes, pasture ground, livestock, and critical infrastructure," the grateful Morgan County Sheriff's Office said.
Meantime, in Yuma County, scene of a giant prairie fire several weeks ago, the sheriff's office reported "another arson fire" between County Road X and Y on County Road 28.
[Photo: Lincoln County sheriff] 

MOVE TO LEGALIZE ESCORT WORK IN COLORADO

A state senate bill proposes dropping criminal penalties for privately selling or paying for sex between adults in Colorado.

Pimping would remain illegal.

Escort Ella West told The Denver Post: “I didn’t realize we were doing that well in terms of the perception of sex work. I will say the bill itself looks pretty damn good in its current form.”

Senator Nick Hinrichsen, a Democrat from Pueblo and one of the four sponsors, said: "I don’t believe the government should be involved in the bedroom of consenting adults.”

CROSSING CHICKEN CAPTURED

This chicken crossed the road in Grand Junction. It didn't say why. "Case closed," police said on social media.

[Photo: Grand Junction police]    

COPS ASK: 'IS YOUR GOAT MISSING?'

Good Samaritans collared a goat in Bessemer, the Pueblo Police Department said, adding: "If this is your goat; please contact Pueblo Animal Control." A resident posted on Facebook: "That goat's always roaming around."

[Photo: Pueblo Police Department]

ARREST ALAMOSA MAN IN SHOOTING SPREE ALONG COLORADO, KANSAS LINE

Matthew Griffith, of Alamosa, was arrested after a wild Valentine's Day shooting spree along the Colorado-Kansas state line and jailed on an attempted homicide charge, the Prowers County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. 

No serious injuries were reported though a number of people reported being fired upon in both states. Griffith also faces gun charges.

The bullets started flying in western Kansas and ended in Holly, Colorado. There were conflicting of where the first shots were fired - either Coolidge, Kansas, or Garden City, Kansas.

The Powers County Sheriff's Office said a "deputy rammed the suspect vehicle, in an attempt to get the vehicle stopped, due to the nature of the charges and to prevent the suspect vehicle from getting back into the city limits of Holly.

"Deputies eventually got the vehicle to stop inside the town limits of Holly and the suspect was arrested."

[Photo: Wikipedia]

I-25 DISASTER: AT LEAST 30 VEHICLES CRASH IN DUST STORM, 4 PEOPLE DIE, MANY HURT; LIVESTOCK SCATTERED

UPDATE

At least 30 cars and trucks - including big rigs - piled up in a dust storm on I-25 in Pueblo on Tuesday, killing four people and injuring many others, the Colorado State Patrol said.

The wreck spilled into both lanes of the busy interstate just south of Pueblo Boulevard at about 10:02 a.m. in near zero visibility and violent winds.

The patrol said: "There is a preliminary estimate of at least 30 vehicles involved, including semis and passenger vehicles. Initial reports from troopers at the scene include four confirmed fatalities.

The patrol also said: "There were heavy winds in the area at the time of the crash, blowing dirt, causing 'brown out' conditions. There was low to no visibility for motorists."

One of the vehicles "was a pickup hauling a gooseneck trailer containing goats. Four of the goats did not survive. Twenty-eight of the goats survived and have been safely removed from the scene," the patrol said.

Authorities put the number of human injuries at 29 and said 10 people escaped injury.

News 5 said UCHealth Parkview treated at least 12 patients and St. Mary Corwin Hospital treated at least 7 patients.

The American Red Cross opened a reception center at Pueblo South High School.

Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham said: "My heart goes out to all affected by this traffic accident today in Pueblo. Thank you to the over 20 agencies who responded to today’s deadly accident on I-25 at mile marker 92." The Pueblo Fire Department said: "We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and individuals affected."
[Photo: Colorado State Patrol, CDOT]

DENVER'S BRAVEST TALK SHOP WITH OUR FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS

Denver firefighters are visiting schools across the city to discuss their trade - and the kids love it.

Fire prevention and life safety are important topics and the visits provide future first responders a chance to ask questions, climb aboard fire engines and examine emergency gear.

Fire officials said: "These moments build trust, spark curiosity, and maybe even inspire the next generation of firefighters." "Thank you to the schools and families who welcomed us in. We’re proud to serve you — both on and off the rig." [Photos: Denver Fire Department]

CHOPPER CALLED FOR DOWNED BIKER IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

A medical helicopter evacuated an injured motorcycle rider on Highway 105 in Douglas County on Monday, the Larkspur Fire Protection District said. [Photos: Larkspur Fire Protection District]

WIND AND FIRE WARNINGS FROM I-25 CORRDOR TO KANSAS

The National Weather Service is warning of high winds up to 65 mph Tuesday from the I-25 corridor to Kansas as well as severe wildfire risk. In the Rockies, winds could top 65 mph. Fire departments are on alert.

FIRE CHIEF GETTING BOOT IN LOVELAND

The chief of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority is getting the boot and says he has no idea why.

The governing board suspended Chief Tim Sendelbach last month and has been mum why it's in the process of pushing him out.

The Loveland firefighters union offered its "strong support" for Sendelbach.

The chief told the Loveland Reporter-Herald: “Obviously, I am pretty perplexed that we’ve gone this far and I still don’t know — I mean we’re three weeks in and still haven’t gotten the first inkling of what the cause is."

"… But this is their decision, so I’ll go with the process and see how things end up.”

ALERT! HUGE FIRE RISK TUESDAY

The National Weather Service in Boulder is forecasting extreme fire danger Tuesday with wind gusts up 60 mph for the Front Range and northeast Colorado. Fire departments across the region on are high alert. [Images: Southeast Weld Fire, National Weather Service]