Dog dies after Aurora apartment fire near downtown

Aurora Fire Department officials say a dog was killed in an apartment fire earlier this week.

Firefighters were called to the two-unit apartment on the 300 block of Spring Street just before 9 p.m. Monday. The resident in the first-floor apartment reported activated smoke detectors.

Soon after, the resident in the second-floor unit arrived home and discovered his dog unresponsive and not breathing.

Firefighters had just arrived on the scene and were unable to resuscitate the dog.

The 60-year-old resident of the second-floor unit told fire officials he had been heating cooking oil before he left the apartment but had turned off the stove prior to leaving.

Firefighters encountered smoke and heat damage inside the second-floor unit and eventually located a few hot spots inside the walls, requiring ventilation of the apartment.

The second-floor unit was deemed uninhabitable, but the resident of the first-floor unit was able to return to home.

The displaced resident is staying with family members, fire officials said.