DENVER — Firefighters battled a large, fast-moving fire Friday evening at a three-story apartment complex under construction in southeast Denver, drawing a massive emergency response and prompting evacuations in nearby areas, officials said.
More than 100 firefighters responded as flames tore through the unfinished building, with crews still working to fully extinguish the fire more than two hours after it first ignited, according to Denver Fire officials.
Fire officials described the blaze as one of the most significant the city has seen in recent years.
“It's major," he said. "I can't tell you the last time in Denver we had a three-alarm fire this big,” said Robert Murphy, division chief of operations for Denver Fire.
Despite the intensity of the fire, officials said there have been no reports of injuries.
The burning building sits alongside a major roadway, which the Denver Police Department said was temporarily closed in both directions to allow emergency crews to operate safely. Authorities urged drivers to avoid the area as firefighters continued suppression efforts.
Murphy said residents of a nearby apartment building were advised to evacuate due to the intense heat radiating from the flames, raising concerns about potential exposure and secondary fire risks.
The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said the blaze triggered “significant power outages” in the surrounding area. Officials opened a temporary overnight shelter at an event center in the nearby city of Glendale to assist displaced residents.
Fire crews remained on scene late into the night, monitoring hot spots and working to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring structures. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and investigators are expected to examine the scene once it is deemed safe.
The incident highlights the heightened fire risks associated with large-scale construction projects, particularly unfinished wood-frame buildings, which can burn rapidly once ignited.
Originally reported by The Associated Press in ABC News.
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