2-year gag order lifted with conviction of arsonist
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Normally when the Colorado Springs Fire Department is called out to a structure fire, the primary objective is to knock out the fire. But on January 16, 2007, that objective changed to an "all hands rescue" as crews arrived to find the Castle West Apartment Complex fully engulfed in flames.
Lt. Fred Varnell and his crew was one of the first group to make entry into the burning building. With smoke and fire coming out of every entrance, firefighters had to "duck walk" down the hallway because it was too hot to stand, and too hot to crawl on their knees.
After approximately seven to 10 minutes inside, the decision was made to go on the defensive and fight the fire from the building's exterior.
Eighty-five rescues were made down ground ladders that night. Physically, firefighters were challenged, carrying ladders and equipment through icy parking lots and knee-deep snow in five degree weather. Mentally and emotionally they were challenged with prioritizing their rescues.
"The thing that stuck with me was the amount of people you could see that needed your help right now, but not being able to get to all of them at once," recalled firefighter Ryan Douglas.
Out of the city's 119 firefighters on duty that night 107 of them were called to the fire, working 10 to 12 hours without relief.
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