Aurora house fires displace three and require animal rescues

Aurora Fire Rescue responded to two separate house fires over a weekend in Aurora, Colorado. The first incident occurred on Saturday, Sept. 5, in a vacant home on the 1000 block of North Racine Street. Firefighters encountered “extreme hoarder conditions” that hindered movement inside the structure, requiring them to break windows and cut vents in the roof to control the blaze. Investigators believe the cause was related to an unattended cooking fire or improper disposal of smoking materials.

A second fire broke out Sunday afternoon in the 600 block of South Troy Street. A neighbor alerted authorities after spotting smoke and flames. While no people were inside the two-level residence, firefighters rescued a dog and a cat from the home. The dog was reported to be in critical condition, while the cat was expected to recover. The fire caused significant fire, water, and smoke damage to the property. Three displaced adults are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.