News

‘He could’ve 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed us,’ fumes homeowner whose neighbor destroyed their home – phone call changed their life forever

A COLORADO couple was left without a roof over their heads after fireworks struck through their home.

Anthony Fox and his fiancée Nicole Betz came home to find their house was ruined after a Fourth of July hike.

Anthony and Nicole were left without a home after Fourth of July fireworks destroyed itCredit: WHSV NEWS

The Colorado couple’s home was charred from the flames and the walls had caved inCredit: whsv news

The couple salvaged some of their belongings but weren’t able to live in their home after the fireCredit: WHSV NEWS

The couple was hiking with their dog at a nearby park in Westminster, a suburb of Denver, when they received a frightening call from the fire department, local Fox affiliate, WHSV reported.

Anthony said he could barely make out the call but heard the person on the other line say they were with the fire department.

“The reception was too poor to make out a full sentence or for them to hear anything we said,” he described the moment in a GoFundMe description.

The Colorado couple then said they ran down the mountain and called 911 for more information on their home.

After finding out their home was on fire, they rushed back with their dog in fear that their cat was injured.

They told WHSV that, luckily, their cat Apollo was unharmed and a deputy sheriff successfully rescued him from the smoke.

The couple was informed that the fire was caused by their neighbor’s fireworks.

The neighbor was reportedly setting off fireworks in between their homes and it struck their house.

“We have roof and wall sections collapsing, no front door or door frame, because [firefighters] had to kick that through to get in to look for survivors,” Anthony told the publication.

Their neighbor, Gabriel Etsby Ocean, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree arson.

First-degree arson is defined in Colorado as when a person knowingly sets fire, burns, or damages using an explosive device, to any building or structure, per the Colorado State Government.

It is considered a class three felony.

“He could’ve 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed us. He could’ve 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed our pets, and ruined our home because of some reckless kid,” Anthony said.

Ocean was later released from jail.

“This gentleman is charged with arson and is at home sleeping in his bed while we’re trying to gather the remnants of our home that he destroyed, [and we’re] sleeping out of a hotel room,” Anthony added.

“He could’ve 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed us. He could’ve 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed our pets, and ruined our home because of some reckless kid,”

Anthony FoxHomeowner And Arson Victim’

HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE’

According to the couple’s GoFundMe, they were placed in a hotel through The Victims Advocates at the Westminster Police Department.

“It is a horrific experience. We are not able to work. We are out of our home,” Anthony told local Fox affiliate KDVR.

The couple explained in their GoFundMe that they’re spending their days clearing out their home and attempting to salvage their belongings that weren’t damaged in the fire.

They were living in the home for five years before the house fire.

The neighbor’s home has also reportedly been damaged due to the fireworks.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Westminster Police and Fire Departments along with the couple involved but did not immediately hear back.

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