Smoke continued to hang over Leetsdale Drive in Denver as firefighters worked through debris left behind by a massive fire that tore through an apartment complex under construction late Friday night. The blaze, which destroyed large portions of the nearly completed building, has disrupted nearby businesses and prompted an ongoing investigation into its cause.
The fire broke out at an apartment complex just across the street from Inga’s Alpine Bar, where employees and customers were forced to evacuate as flames spread rapidly through the structure.
“I have not seen a fire like that, ever, that up close. It was- it was massive,” said Peter McKnabb, who was working at the bar when the fire erupted.
According to the project architect’s website, the nearly 300-unit Harker Heights apartment complex was scheduled to open in May. The developer, EMBREY, told CBS News Colorado that the company is still gathering information about what occurred at the site on the day of the fire.
Denver Fire Department officials said a security guard was present at the property when the fire began, but it was a passerby who ultimately called 9-1-1. Fire crews arrived within minutes, though the scale and intensity of the blaze required a massive response.
“I had customers rushing out,” McKnabb said. “Shortly after, the fire department, police- they started evacuating all of us.”
More than 150 firefighters from at least three agencies responded to the scene. Fire officials said crews continue to battle hard-to-reach hot spots beneath the debris and expect to remain on site for several more days. Denver Fire also confirmed that parts of the building collapsed, further complicating firefighting and investigative efforts.
In a Saturday press conference, Denver Fire Division Chief of Operations Robert Murphy said, “Multiple portions of this building have collapsed. We are still unable to get inside to do any searches, which would help us determine a cause and also search for any potential victims that are inside.”
The fire’s impact extended beyond the construction site. McKnabb said Inga’s Alpine Bar temporarily lost power and remains without internet service, forcing the business to accept cash only while traffic disruptions continue to slow customer flow. Police also requested security footage from the business, but the outage has temporarily prevented access to those recordings.
Officials said heat from the blaze partially melted the siding of a nearby home, and Denver Fire acknowledged reports that a firework may have gone off near the site while the building was burning.
On Sunday, EMBREY spokesperson Jeff Cowart issued a statement addressing the incident: “Our entire team would like to express our deep gratitude to the emergency response teams from around the city who worked to contain the fire within the construction site and who continue to work to secure the site. Our priority remains working collaboratively with Denver Fire, investigators, and the community as the investigation continues to determine the cause and next steps.”
Denver Fire officials said the building may need to be demolished to fully extinguish lingering hot spots, though it is still unclear who will be responsible for the demolition costs. Investigators hope to gain greater access to the site later this week before any teardown begins.
As traffic delays persist along Leetsdale Drive, McKnabb said local businesses are hoping customers continue to visit the area.
“Clean it up fast. Open the road up. We’re still here. That’s all that really matters, is that people still know, you know, Inga’s is here,” he said.
Originally reported by Sarah Horbacewicz in CBS News.
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