Flames gushed from the top floor of a large residential building under construction in unincorporated Arapahoe County, creating a huge plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.
Flames shot more than 50 feet into the air, wowing dozens of onlookers, some who came with cameras in hand.
No one was reported injured. The 32-unit, six-story building was one of at least six buildings that make up the Ballantyne Apartments, a sprawling complex expected to open soon at 10001 E. Dry Creek Road, said Andy Lyon, spokesman for South Metro Fire and Rescue.
The loss was estimated at $1 million.
No cause had been determined, but there were construction workers inside the building installing drywall when the fire broke out, Lyon said. The fire was reported just after 5 p.m. and was under control by 8:30 p.m.
Fire crews expected to be working throughout the night to extinguish stubborn hot spots, Lyon said.
It took 50 firefighters from area fire departments more than two hours before the flames on the roof of the building died down, he said.
“The chief declared it a defensive fire pretty early on, and we didn’t want to put firefighters inside the building like this because parts of it can collapse,” Lyon said.
Laura Hoeppner and her husband Kevin Singel of Centennial said they could smell the smoke from their home more than a mile away, on other side of Interstate 25.
“I’m glad there were no people living here yet and that no one got hurt,” Hoeppner said, between snapping photographs. “I just hope the firefighters are careful and safe, because the flames were really intense. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office shut down East Dry Creek Road and were diverting cars that were traveling east from I-25.
The area is sprouting many new large residential complexes around the light-rail stop.
Marilynn Hill, an insurance adjuster, who came with her daughter to marvel at the fire, said it appeared the building would need to be completely torn down.
“This was a real intense fire, that shot flames pretty high, at least 50 feet, from the top of the building,” Hill said. “I’m sure it’ll be a total loss.”
Manny Gonzales: 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
