Fire forces evacuations at Denver nursing home

By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 2, 2008 at 7:51 a.m.
Updated June 2, 2008 at 8:16 a.m.

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A fire forced the evacuation of about 20 seniors at a West Colfax assisted-living center early this morning.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the 2:37 a.m. fire in a vacant ground-floor room in the four-story Golden Manor assisted living center at 4600 W. Colfax Ave., said Assistant Denver Fire Chief Greg Champlin.

The fire, which was initially reported in an mattress, was snuffed in minutes as 30 firefighters contained the blaze to the one room, he said.

One resident was transported to Denver Health Medical Center with smoke inhalation that was non-life-threatening, Champlin said.

Nine paramedics and emergency medical technicians responded to help evacuate and assess evacuated residents who were temporarily sheltered in an RTD bus. Only the first two floors were evacuated and residents on upper floors were allowed to stay in their rooms.

Emergency medical responders, who are constantly training for mass-casualty disasters, "considered this a really good exercise today in preparation for perhaps the (Democratic National Convention in August) or some other larger event," Champlin said. "It went extremely well."

After large fans helped clear the smoke, the displaced residents re-entered the building about two hours later, doubling in rooms on the upper floors, Champlin said. They should be back in their own rooms by noon.

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