DENVER (AP) — The family of a woman presumed killed in a Colorado wildfire is questioning why a firefighter didn’t leave his vehicle and walk past a chain blocking her driveway to warn her to evacuate.
A fire official says the volunteer firefighter went house-to-house telling residents to leave but didn’t reach three homes because of blocked driveways.
One was the home of Ann Appel, who is believed to have died.
The fire official says the firefighter followed standard safety procedures when he didn’t enter the properties but went on to warn others. He says there was smoke but no fire in the area at the time.
Appel’s family says it would have taken three minutes to walk from the chain to the house.
