Metro Denver Firefighters Battle Massive Five-Alarm Fire at Apartment Complex
Metro Denver firefighters were faced with a challenging task as they battled a massive five-alarm fire that ravaged an apartment complex under construction at Leetsdale Drive and South Forest Street on Friday night. The intense blaze led to the evacuation of nearby residents and caused power outages in the area.
One firefighter sustained injuries during the incident and was promptly transported to Denver Health for medical treatment, as reported by the Denver Fire Department just before 10 p.m.
Initial reports of the fire came in around 7 p.m., with officials confirming that it involved a three-story apartment building that was still under construction. The severity of the situation prompted Denver fire officials to escalate their response to a five-alarm fire by 9:45 p.m.
Over 100 firefighters from various metro Denver agencies rushed to the scene to combat the massive blaze, according to Robert Murphy, operations division chief for the Denver Fire Department.
“This fire rapidly spread throughout the building,” Murphy shared with Denver7. “It engulfed a complete city block, and the entire structure was ablaze.”
Upon arrival, firefighters found the west end of the complex fully engulfed in flames, with the fire progressively advancing towards the east side of the building as responders set up their control measures.
“Initially, there was some wind that fueled the fire,” Murphy explained. “A fire of this magnitude creates its own airflow, propelling embers outward. When I got there, my car was completely covered in embers. Thankfully, that situation has subsided since the fire peaked.”
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
Social media videos captured the towering flames and thick smoke plume that were visible from the nearby Glendale area.
The Denver Police Department issued evacuation notices for residents residing behind the apartments due to the intense heat from the fire. As of 9:30 p.m., the evacuation orders were still in effect. However, Murphy assured that the fire department had contained the blaze within the structure and was no longer concerned about it spreading beyond the burned area.
Authorities in Glendale reported significant power outages affecting the surrounding neighborhoods and announced that the city, along with the Red Cross, had established an overnight shelter at the Glendale Event Center, located at 4400 E. Kentucky Ave., to accommodate individuals in need of temporary housing.
Leetsdale Drive was closed in both directions to facilitate emergency response efforts, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Denver Fire Department.
This is an ongoing situation.
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