A backyard burn gone sideways sent South Metro Fire Rescue and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office racing to Helena Circle in unincorporated Douglas County on Sunday evening, where a residential structure fire filled a home with smoke but left everyone physically unharmed. Crews reported getting the blaze under control at 5:39 p.m. and fully extinguishing it before flames could push into the attic. Two adults and three children were temporarily displaced after significant smoke damage to the home.
In a Facebook update, South Metro Fire Rescue said investigators with its fire marshal’s office determined the fire started on the exterior of the home after vegetation was burned in the backyard. The department used the incident as a cautionary tale, warning that “small outdoor burns can quickly spread and threaten homes and neighborhoods.” A neighbor managed to slow the flames with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived, buying crucial time. The agency also pointed out that Douglas County is currently under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which prohibit open burning and limit activities that create flames, heat, or sparks, according to Douglas County.
How Crews Kept It From Getting Worse
Engines 15, 17 and 33, ladder 34 and towers 32 and 35 responded, with medic and safety crews on standby, according to South Metro Fire Rescue. Firefighters moved through the structure to hunt down and extinguish hot spots, working to make sure the fire did not rekindle. They credited the neighbor’s quick use of a fire extinguisher with helping limit the spread while units were en route. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and investigators remained on scene to confirm the exact point of origin.
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