A five-alarm fire erupted Friday evening, January 2, 2026, at an apartment building construction site in Denver, Colorado. Over 100 firefighters were deployed to contain the blaze, which affected a structure approximately the size of a city block. One firefighter sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital, while residents in the immediate vicinity were subject to evacuation orders.
Incident Details
The fire occurred at a building identified by a sign as Harker Heights, located near the intersection of Leetsdale Drive and Forest Street, close to the Denver-Glendale border, east of Colorado Boulevard. The structure was in the early to mid-stages of construction, composed primarily of wood and plastic materials. Division Chief of Operations for the Denver Fire Department, Robert Murphy, noted that the absence of drywall, insulation, sprinklers, and other fire protection systems in the construction phase allowed the fire to propagate across the entire city block. Significant smoke and flames were visible from a distance.
Emergency Response
Emergency services designated the incident as a "five-alarm fire," deploying over 100 firefighters to the scene. Efforts focused on containing the blaze and protecting adjacent residential and commercial properties, successfully preventing further spread. Ladder trucks were utilized to spray water on the flames, with operations continuing for several hours. Denver Water increased local water pressure to support firefighting operations. The Aurora Fire Department also provided assistance to the Denver Fire Department.
At approximately 7:15 p.m., Denver Police closed Leetsdale Drive in both directions. By late evening, approximately 70% of the fire was contained, although deep-seated pockets of fire and hotspots remained active within the structure. Firefighters continued operations overnight to extinguish these remaining areas.
Impact
One firefighter sustained injuries during operations and was transported to Denver Health shortly before 10 p.m. No other injuries have been reported in connection with the incident. Evacuation orders for nearby residents remained in effect at 9:30 p.m.
The fire resulted in power outages for approximately 1,000 Xcel Energy customers in the area. Sam's No. 3 Glendale, a local business, reported losing power at 8:15 p.m. and subsequently closed early. Division Chief Murphy characterized the damage to the construction site as "massive."
Investigation
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation by fire investigators. As of late evening, flames and hotspots within the building prevented crews from conducting an internal search for additional potential injuries.