LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Six horses were killed in a series of overnight fires in Lakewood which officials are calling “suspicious” in nature.
West Metro firefighters responded to four substantial fires, beginning at approximately 2:45 a.m. Saturday.
In a Saturday afternoon tweet, West Metro posted, "Of the four suspicious fires this morning- two were dumpster fires, one a tire fire and one a barn fire. One dumpster fire and tire fire near 4th & Sheridan, barn fire in the 5400 blk of West 3rd Ave, dumpster fire near 22nd & Sheridan."
Of the four suspicious fires this morning- two were dumpster fires, one a tire fire and one a barn fire. One dumpster fire and tire fire near 4th & Sheridan, barn fire in the 5400 blk of West 3rd Ave, dumpster fire near 22nd & Sheridan. pic.twitter.com/yL9wIpX3Fk
— WestMetroFire (@WestMetroFire) April 28, 2018
District Chief Gary Armstrong told Denver7 crews have identified more than five fires connected to the "suspicious" early morning cases.
Six horses were killed in one of those fires which was located off Sheridan Boulevard and 4th Avenue, firefighters said. Four were able to make it out alive.
"I feel bad for the neighbors. They lose (sic) the horses, but thank God nothing happened to the people," neighbor Manuela Sanchez said.
Sanchez and her husband live just a few short yards from the burned barns.
"What I see (sic) is a big flame. It was terrible," she added.
She described neighbors pounding on her door, telling her and her husband to get out.
"We could've died last night, or this morning," she said.
Looking at the destruction, Allen Krantz asked, "It's a mess, ain't it?"
Krantz's lives in an apartment closest to the destruction.
"The whole apartment got real light inside," he said. "I heard a bunch of people out here screaming, so I looked out and the firetrucks were already here then."
The fire burned higher than the power lines, according to neighbors. Most went without power after the barn fires.
"It's really important to remember that it can absolutely destroy lives and kill people," West Metro Fire District Chief Gary Armstrong said.
Investigators haven't shared details on any suspect, or suspects.
For that reason, neighbors told Denver7 they're left shaken.
.@WestMetroFire investigator anticipates crews will be on-scene all day. Understandably, they’ve moved us away from the fire scene, as investigation continues with the sun up. #Denver7 #BREAKING #DEVELOPING pic.twitter.com/I95C1HKF7J
— Amanda del Castillo (@AmandaDTV) April 28, 2018
There were no reports of injuries to people because of the fires.
The Lakewood Police Department, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation.
Five horses killed in the same area in 2014
The overnight blaze in this neighborhood brings memories of another fire that left five horses dead in 2014.
That fire burned a shed-like barn and damaged the side of the business at Sutton Insulation Gutters and Windows on Sheridan Boulevard and 3rd Avenue, according to West Metro Fire. No people were hurt.
It's unclear at this point if there is a possible connection between the fires in 2014 and the fires that occurred overnight.
