BLAZE DISPLACES 30 RESIDENTS; FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE 3 CATS, 1 PARROT

UPDATE

Fire displaced 30 residents of an apartment building in Lakewood early Saturday, West Metro Fire Rescue said.

Firefighters rescued three cats and a parrot - but one of the cats succumbed to its injuries.
 

Two apartments were gutted by fire, which started in an unattended space heater on a second-floor wooden deck and traveled into the attic and out the roof. Other units suffered smoke and water damage. No human casualties were reported. "Crews found two of the cats hiding in a closet in one apartment and were able to coax them out," officials said. "The bird was rescued from one of the apartments that had smoke damage - but he seemed to be doing fine." The American Red Cross provided housing assistance for the displaced residents.

[Photos: West Metro Fire Rescue]