Aurora fire extinguished after burning for days

AURORA, Colo. — After nearly a week of burning, a fire at an apartment building under construction in Aurora was fully extinguished Thursday, according to a statement from Aurora Fire Rescue.

Crews responded to a fire at a construction site near the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street just before 1 p.m. on Saturday. The fire reportedly started on the top floor of the five-story apartment building. Though firefighters tried to extinguish it from the inside, worsening conditions forced crews to attack it from the outside and call in a fifth-alarm response. 

No one was injured, and the cause of the fire continues to be investigated. 

On Thursday, five days after the fire started, Aurora Fire said there are no longer hot spots burning in the building. The department said it will continue to monitor the site with the help of a security firm, and that crews would be sent back to the site “in the event of any rekindling or hot spots.”  

The intersection of Colfax and Peoria, which has been shut down since the fire started Saturday, will remain closed until next year.

“AFR Investigators plan to begin extensive probing and analysis of the site concurrent with the demolition of portions of the property beginning the week of January 1, 2024,” the statement reads. “This approach will facilitate the reopening of vital roadways to the community. It is anticipated that this process could span several weeks, with the goal of reopening all roadways as soon as possible.”

The fire and subsequent road closures have also impacted nearby businesses. As of Monday, some businesses had their utilities and water shut off for safety reasons. 

Last week, another fire started at an apartment building in the 7300 block of South Addison Court in Aurora that was also under construction. Aurora Fire Rescue confirmed the fire is being investigated as a potential criminal act, but declined to elaborate. 

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