Two house fires in Aurora leave three people displaced, firefighters save two animals

AURORA, Colo. (KRDO) -- Aurora Fire Rescue firefighters battled two house fires over the weekend and saved two pets from one of the structures. According to officials, the first fire occurred Saturday, Sept. 5, around 2:20 p.m. in what officials say was a vacant home in the 1000 block of North Racine Street. While there, firefighters saw smoke coming from the roof and began fighting the fire. They were working the fire when they noticed "extreme hoarder conditions within all areas of the home." Firefighters say due to these conditions they could barely move around the house. Officials say they had to break exterior windows and use thermal imaging cameras to search for victims. Vents were cut in the roof and firefighters were eventually able to put the fire out and under control within 20 minutes. Investigators say they determined the cause of the fire was in the kitchen by either an unattended cooking fire or the improper disposal of smoking materials. Aurora firefighters also battled a second fire Sunday afternoon in the 600 block of Troy Street. Officials say they arrived to find heavy smoke and Aurora Police Department officers attempted to search for anyone inside. The fire was under control within 11 minutes, officials say. During the search, firefighters rescued a dog and cat from the home. Both animals were taken to a local animal hospital, with the dog in critical condition and the cat is expected to be okay. Officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but three people were displaced. Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.