Embers are expected to smolder for a few days after a fire in Leadville that put five people in the hospital, including a firefighter.
The fire was ignited by a series of explosions at a 50,000-square-foot industrial building Friday afternoon and burned late into the night. One injured person was rushed to University Hospital in Aurora and four were admitted at a hospital in Leadville, said Capt. John Ortiz, spokesman for the Leadville Lake County Fire-Rescue.
Four victims suffered from smoke inhalation. The firefighter was hospitalized overnight for observation of minor, undisclosed injuries.
The first explosion rocked the structure at 501 U.S. 24 at 3:07 p.m. and was followed by a series of large and small explosions as chemicals ignited in four industrial businesses in the complex. Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post
