Story/Photos by John Carr
On Thursday, August 29, thunderstorms were moving off of the Rocky Mountain foothills near Denver. At approximately 3:00 p.m. Aurora Fire Department Engine 13 was finishing up shopping at a local supermarket. The engine crew was racing to beat the approaching storm. They observed a large column of dust passing over a construction site less than a mile away. As the column intensified firefighters also observed large pieces of debris mixed in with the dust. They immediately alerted their dispatcher of a possible tornado. As local sirens alerted residents of an impending tornado the debris field increased in size and reached a funnel dropping down from storm clouds overhead.
Within minutes the tornado jumped over an occupied section of newly built homes. The funnel crashed full bore onto a section of multi family homes under construction. Though unoccupied the site was still being manned by numerous contractors. At its base the funnel was approximately 100 yards wide. The debris cloud surrounding the tornado extended several hundred yards. While many workers found themselves amid the swirling debris, others managed to scurry to cover.
Experts stated that the tornado touched down for only a few minutes. It covered an area extending a little more than a mile. It entered the condo complex and destroyed one entire building, ripped the second floor off of a second and also damaged as many as 25 other buildings. A plumbing contractor who witnessed the approaching storm sought refuge in the site's construction trailer. As the winds hit the trailer it flipped it over several times. The contractor suffered broken bones and ribs and numerous cuts. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Damage has been estimated to exceed $6 million.
Aurora Fire Dispatchers received numerous calls of collapsed buildings and injured civilians. As Engine 13 wound its way to the site they were confronted with considerable debris blocking their way. They also observed the total destruction of the two buildings. The Aurora Fire Department initially dispatched a full structure fire assignment. They followed this up with the department's collapse unit and additional apparatus. Dispatchers also sent sufficient ambulances to treat the numerous reported injuries.
When they arrived in the complex the crew from Engine 13 was directed to the injured plumber. Additional crews were directed by command to begin primary searches of the two collapsed buildings, and the other surrounding ones. Firefighters were confronted with a two story building that was more than a 6 foot tall pile of rubble. They found a baseball cap near the debris. Assuming that at least one worker might have sought shelter in the building they immediately began searching. All the time firefighters were searching the grounds severe lightning and rain pounded the area.
After spending nearly an hour searching the complex and several developments in the immediate area command determined that all workers and residents were accounted for. The only injury was to the one plumbing contractor. At least 25 buildings were damaged. Two multi unit structures were a total loss, while other buildings suffered roofs ripped off from the winds and extensive damages caused by flying debris. Numerous vehicles were damaged by debris. Several had all of their windows shattered. As the tornado passed over the construction site it continued northeast over a nearby six lane interstate highway, missing countless vehicles. The storm then entered an undeveloped area where it dissipated. The National Weather Service reported that the tornado was probably an F1, the weakest recorded tornado level.
