Fire at Denver apartment construction site engulfs a complete city block

DENVER — A massive fire broke out at a construction site for an apartment complex in Denver on Friday evening. The blaze forced nearby residents to evacuate and resulted in one firefighter being injured, according to officials.

Robert Murphy, operations division chief for the Denver Fire Department, reported that over 100 firefighters from various agencies responded to the fire, which started around 6:45 p.m. near S. Leetsdale Drive and S. Forest Street. He described the fire as having spread rapidly across a complete city block.

Firefighters arrived to find the west end of the three-story apartment complex fully engulfed in flames. The fire continued to spread eastward as firefighters worked to control it. Murphy noted that the fire generated its own wind, pushing embers outwards. At one point, embers covered his car.

Initially, no injuries were reported, but later, the Denver Fire Department confirmed that one firefighter was transported to Denver Health. Firefighters could not safely enter the building to check for anyone inside, as a chainlink fence surrounded the site to keep unauthorized individuals out.

The Denver Police Department ordered evacuations for residents behind the apartments due to the heat from the fire. As of 9:30 p.m., the evacuation order remained in effect, but Murphy stated that the fire department was no longer concerned about the fire spreading beyond the burned structure. Residents were expected to return home that evening.

Murphy described the damage as massive, noting that the construction site lacked drywall to slow the fire’s progress and was not equipped with a sprinkler system. He stated that this fire was the largest he had seen in Denver in a long time, reaching the level of a five-alarm fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with fire investigators currently on the scene. Leetsdale Drive was closed in both directions, and road closures were expected to remain in place through the night due to ongoing deep-seated fires in the apartment units.

As of 9:30 p.m., about 70% of the fire had been extinguished. Residents reported being evacuated and without power. An emergency shelter was opened at the Cook Park Recreation Center for those affected.