Apartment unit evacuated because of fire

An apartment building in central Colorado Springs was evacuated this morning after a small fire that damaged two balconies. No one was injured.

Crews were called about 6:52 a.m. to one of several buildings at Homewood Apartments, a complex near the intersection of Institute Street and Pikes Peak Avenue.

The fire involved balconies on the second and third floors but did not spread indoors, said Colorado Springs Fire Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Sievers. It appeared to be mostly extinguished within 15 minutes.

Patrick Blackdale, 17, was among a dozen residents standing in their pajamas and wrapped in blankets as firefighters inspected damage to the balconies and worked to extinguish flames.

He said he was awakened by a smoke alarm and went out to his balcony to see what was happening. "Right as I got out I look down and see flames right there," Blackdale said. The fire was traveling along the wall at the base of his balcony, he said.

Blackdale was home alone. His parents are on a cruise, he said.

The Fire Department called a second alarm because of the size of the complex, consisting of at least four three-story buildings. That brought a total of four engines, two ladder trucks, a heavy rescue rig and a hazardous materials truck.

"That second alarm is purely staffing to get the people out," said Sievers.