Colorado Springs Man Scales Building to Help Neighbor

A Colorado Springs man is being hailed as a hero for scaling a three story building to save a neighbor suffering an asthma attack during an apartment building fire. Dewey Parker said his neighbor was alone in the apartment and when he saw someone in trouble his adrenaline took over.

The man was in a building adjacent to the one that was on fire, which became involved after smoke from the affected building ballooned out to surrounding structures. Lt. Chris Weaver with the Colorado Springs Fire Department said the fire started inside a chimney and spread outside of the firebox, moving vertically from the first floor to the second floor. It then drifted toward the adjacent buildings, triggering the man’s asthma attack.

“We saw the fire going on and noticed a guy on the third floor was having a hard time breathing. He had an inhaler in his hand but he couldn’t even stand up. Somebody else told the EMTs and they went up — but the door was locked” Parker said. With little regard for his own safety, Parker scaled up the balconies to the man’s third-floor apartment, let himself in, and opened the door so EMTs could get in to render aid.

“He needed a hand. I just decided to scale up to the third floor off the balconies and unlocked the door. I was able to reach. It was scary, though, because I figured, if my hand slipped, then they’re going to have to be helping me. I’m glad I was here and was able to help,” said Parker. “I just figured, if that was me, I would hope someone would have done the same thing.” Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control but the fire affected two apartments, displacing eight people and five animals. Aside from the man having the asthma attack, no one else was harmed.