COLORADO SPRINGS — Flames ripped through balconies, breezeways and full apartments Tuesday at the Ridgeview Place Apartments in Colorado Springs.
The two-alarm fire, deemed accidental Wednesday, eventually destroyed at least some of all eight units inside the building. For neighbors like Megan Murfield, the fire's proximity, heat and smoke made the evening a stressful one.
"I feel very, very, very sad for (them), cause I couldn't even imagine losing everything," Murfield said.
As bad as the damage was, it also brought forth an appreciation the damage was limited to one building, while adjacent buildings and green space were not harmed.
The complex features buildings including a handful of units. Those buildings, though, are relatively close to one another.
Just a short walk from the damaged building, trees meet the property line all the way to Palmer Park.
Even with flames pumping through the building, Colorado Springs firefighters were able to knock them down and contain them to the source.
"For it to happen this close to where my apartment is and where Palmer Park is and how high the trees are. And they said it almost got into the trees. That's just scary," Murfield said.
Fewer than 24 hours after the fire, contractor Response Team 1 was on-site Wednesday to contain the damaged units. News 5 was there as they boarded up any openings for security purposes.
Apartment management offered food and other snacks for the impacted residents Wednesday. Renters insurance is required for residents, though it's unclear how much liability coverage will cover, as it depends on what's inside.
There's no timetable for when these units will be tenable again, if at all.
