Sheriff Deputy Kicks Door Off Hinges During House Fire That Bystanders Said Won’t Budge
Credit: Screenshot/X/Arapahoe Sheriff
A sheriff’s deputy in Colorado forced entry into a burning home earlier this month after neighbors said they couldn’t get inside to check if anyone was trapped.
According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened April 20 during a house fire in Centennial. Video from the deputy’s body camera shows him arriving at the scene as residents nearby explained they had tried, unsuccessfully, to reach anyone inside. One person said they had been pounding on the door but couldn’t get it open.
Acting quickly, Deputy Ligon kicked the front door in and went through the house calling out for occupants. Despite the urgency, he didn’t find anyone inside. After exiting, he continued checking the property and discovered a dog hiding beneath a trampoline in the yard.
The first deputy at the scene of a house fire in Centennial acted immediately and kicked in the front door to search for anyone trapped inside. Deputy Ligon, a School Resource Officer, then turned his attention outside, where he helped locate a dog hiding in a backyard. The fire… pic.twitter.com/aZuCyYBn5l
— Arapahoe Sheriff (@ArapahoeSO) April 24, 2026
Officials said the fire ultimately destroyed two homes, but no injuries were reported.
The sheriff’s office also noted that Arapahoe County remains under a Stage 2 Burn Ban because of extremely dangerous fire conditions. The restriction bars all outdoor burning, including campfires, fire pits, and charcoal grills.
Fire risk has been unusually high across Colorado. In a separate incident, crews responding to a rapidly spreading fire near the western edge of Fort Collins on April 23 were able to bring it under control after evacuations were ordered. Authorities say a combination of dry weather, strong winds, and warm temperatures is causing wildfire threats to escalate earlier than usual this season.
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