The cause of an early Saturday, April 14, 2007 explosion and fire, which destroyed one home and damaged two others, has not been determined and is still under investigation. The remains of one person were found at the home, located in Centennial, Colorado. Firefighters assisted the coroner's office in removing the body, so the victim can be positively identified.
South Metro Fire Rescue investigators are working with Arapahoe County sheriff's investigators to try and determine the cause of the explosion and fire -- a difficult task given the intensity of both the explosion and the subsequent fire. Investigators say it does not appear that there were any other victims. A single man lived at the home but it has not been confirmed that that individual is the victim. A dog belonging to the homeowner survived, apparently without serious injury.
Crews from South Metro Fire rescue were dispatched at 12:23 a.m. and could see flames immediately upon leaving their station at Quebec and Dry Creek. When they arrived at 12:29 they reported debris in the air and a wall of flames which had totally engulfed the one home and was starting to burn the homes on either side. Firefighters focused on protecting the adjacent homes as the house in the middle was already a total loss. Residents of both adjacent homes evacuated safely, though both homes did sustain some fire damage. At least one of those families will be displaced, through the weekend if not longer.
Crews from South Metro and Littleton Fire Rescue had the fire contained within an hour but spent two more hours putting out hot spots and searching for victims.
Two alarms were called on the fire with approximately 50 firefighters and over a dozen pieces of fire apparatus involved in fighting the fire. No firefighters were injured. A portion of County Line Road was closed due to firefighting operations and also because numerous roofing nails had been blown from the house, over a wall behind it and onto County Line Road.
Centennial is a Denver suburb.
