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Colo. paramedics dodge bullet after man shoots at ambulance, allegedly starts house fire

While Aurora Fire Rescue attempted to extinguish a house fire, a man ran out with a gun and immediately fired upon a responding Falck Rocky Mountain ambulance

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Aurora Fire Rescue

By Lauren Penington
The Denver Post

AURORA, Colo. — Police plan to arrest a man who allegedly shot at an ambulance in Aurora after starting a house fire for arson and attempted murder.

“Yesterday afternoon, the Falck medics who joined us in responding to a call for a structure fire literally dodged a bullet,” Aurora Fire Rescue said in a Saturday statement.

Crews from Aurora Fire Rescue and Falck Rocky Mountain responded to reports of a house fire near South Chambers Road and East Quincy Avenue around 3:20 p.m. Friday, fire rescue officials said.

Someone had also called and reported that a man ran out of the house that was on fire, holding a gun, according to the Aurora Police Department.

“While AFR was attempting to extinguish the fire, a Falck Rocky Mountain ambulance arrived and was immediately fired upon by this man,” the police department said Saturday. “The round struck the front windshield and thankfully changed trajectory, not striking any of the three ambulance employees inside.”


The risk of violence to fire and EMS personnel is real — and increasing. In the video below, Gordon Graham offers valuable tips on how first responders can identify potential indicators of violent situations.


When Aurora police officers arrived, they spotted the suspect nearby and took the 34-year-old man into custody “after the use of 40mm less-lethal rounds,” police said.

Police said the man was taken to the hospital Friday night but did not elaborate on his injuries or specify if he was shot by Aurora officers.

Once the unidentified man is released from the hospital, he will be arrested for arson and two counts of attempted murder, Aurora police said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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