AURORA, Colo. — A woman is dead following an explosion and fire at a retirement community in Aurora Friday night, city officials confirmed Saturday.<\/p>\n
“After an extensive search process it has been confirmed that one person has died in an explosion and fire in Aurora last night,” said Sherri Jo Stowell, a spokesperson with the City of Aurora.<\/p>\n
She continued, “After initial searches were completed, it was determined that one resident was still unaccounted for. At that time Aurora Fire Rescue called for canine search support from Colorado Task Force One, an urban search and rescue team. In the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 17 a deceased victim was discovered in one of the patio home units.”<\/p>\n
City officials said they would not be releasing the woman’s\u00a0identity until the family of the victim was\u00a0notified,\u00a0adding victim support services will be offered to family members.<\/p>\n
On Saturday afternoon, however, Craig Baldwin, the director and president of the Heather Gardens Metropolitan District, identified the woman was 82-year-old Carol Ross.<\/p>\n
“This is a tragic loss and as friends and neighbors, members of the HGA and HGMD Boards want to express our deepest sympathy to her family and friends.”<\/p>\n
The Aurora fire chief also released the following statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hearts go out to the many residents who are impacted by this tragedy and our department offers our deepest condolences to the family of the victim on this very sad day,\u201d said Aurora Fire Chief Fernando Gray Sr. \u201cWe will continue to investigate the cause of this incident.\u201d<\/p>\n
At least two other people, including a firefighter,\u00a0were\u00a0taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. By Saturday, the firefighter had been released, according to Stowell.<\/p>\n