House damaged in Aurora fire

A house in Aurora was deemed uninhabitable after a Friday morning fire, officials announced Monday.

According to the Aurora Fire Department, crews responded at approximately 6:55 a.m. to a reported structure fire in the 400 block of Wilder Street. When firefighters arrived, they saw a working fire in the attic and chimney area of a 2½-story single-family residence.

While battling the blaze, firefighters saw the chimney leaning toward the center of the home and temporarily switched to a defensive strategy as a safety precaution, authorities said. Once conditions improved, crews re-entered the house.

Authorities said two adult residents had safely self-evacuated before firefighters arrived. One cat was safely rescued from the home.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

“This incident demonstrates the importance of maintaining strong situational awareness during complex fires,” Aurora Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Nickel said in a statement. “Our crews quickly adjusted tactics to ensure firefighter safety while continuing to bring the fire under control.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Aurora Fire Department fire investigators.