Smoking linked to deadly Cimarron Hills fire; victim ID'd
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An explosion, sirens and a red glow: Neighbors said it was an intense scene on Western Drive Wednesday night as firefighters battled a large mobile home fire.
The fire started around 9 p.m. in The Springs mobile home park. A witness said he heard a loud boom when checking his mailbox, then saw an eerie glow coming from a nearby home.
Firefighters spent close to an hour tackling the blaze, which engulfed the home.
Witnesses feared someone had been killed after seeing a stretcher taken to the scene. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday morning that one person had been killed. The deceased was identified as 64-year-old Steven Cryer.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department said the fire was caused by a cigarette or similar that wasn't put out properly. There did not appear to be a functioning smoke alarm in the home.
The Springs mobile home community is located near highways 24 and 94.