Arapahoe County 3rd Alarm

Photo courtesy South Metro Fire Rescue

At 20:08 on December 30th, 2018 Metcom dispatched South Metro Fire Rescue to numerous 911 reports of an apartment building on fire at 2172 S. Trenton Way in Arapahoe County at The Covington on Cherry Creek by Cortland Apartments. While en-route, Battalion Chief 5 observed heavy flames and requested a 2nd Alarm, nearly doubling the amount of firefighters and equipment. First arriving Engine 21, Medic 21 and Medic 211 found flames shooting from the 3rd floor and extending into the attic space. Those crews began an aggressive fire attack and searched the apartment units for potential occupants, they determined that everyone had safely evacuated. As additional crews arrived they joined in the difficult fight to save property from the well-involved attic fire. Approximately 1 hour into the incident, with the building falling apart around the firefighters, they transitioned to a “defensive strategy” and battled the fire from the exterior. It took 3 hours to bring the incident under control and thankfully no one was injured. Firefighters contained the fire to one half of the 24-unit building with 12 apartments sustaining damage. The fire displaced 48 people and the American Red Cross is assisting them. Firefighters remained on scene extinguishing hotspots through the night while investigators worked to determine the cause. Aurora Fire Rescue, Castle Rock Fire Rescue, and West Metro Fire Rescue back-filled the district for coverage.

1st Alarm:

South Metro: Battalion 5, Battalion 3, Safety 31, Safety 35, Engine 21, Medic 21, Medic 211, Engine 38, Engine 31, Tower 32, Tower 35, Rescue 34, PIO10, Bureau 12 & Bureau 23

Aurora: Battalion 2 & Engine 11

2nd Alarm:

South Metro: Ops 1, OEM1, District 1, Safety 10, Engine 22, Engine 42 & Medic 31

Littleton Fire Rescue: Ladder 12, Engine 14 & Rehab 12

Special Call:

South Metro: Engine 46, Tower 45, Engine 33, Battalion 4 & Engine 44

Littleton: Engine 11 & Engine 19

Denver Fire Department: Chief 4, Ops 2, Engine 18, Engine 19, Engine 21, Truck 19, Tower 15, Tower 22 & Rescue 2

Apex Paramedics: Medic 4

Action Care Ambulance: Ambulance 115

Northglenn Ambulance – South Adams County Paramedics: Ambulance 207

Arapahoe County Sheriff, Denver Paramedics & Arapahoe Rescue Patrol