South Metro Commercial Fire

At 10:24 on December 23rd, 2022 South Metro Fire Rescue was dispatched to a smoke investigation inside at the Rail Apartments, located at 10001 E. Dry Creek Rd. in Centennial.  South Metro Emergency Communications updated Battalion 5 and units responding that a caller in a second floor apartment reported smoke inside, possibly from a dryer vent in addition to an alarm activation for water flow and audibles. Battalion 5 arrived on scene of a three-story, multi-family structure with center hall construction, alarms sounding, nothing showing except steam from a dryer vent, established Dry Creek Command in the offensive strategy and began investigating. At approximately 10:30 Battalion 5 located an odor of smoke and requested an upgraded assignment to a reported structure fire. Engine 33 located water flowing from the fire sprinkler system but no smoke or fire in the Charlie side hallway. Engine 33 located light smoke on the second floor with an electrical odor. Safety 35 arrived and was assigned to perform a secondary 360° walk-around and then Incident Safety on floor 2. Engine 14 arrived and Level 1 staged at the hydrant with Tower 32 staging on Dry Creek. Medic 31 arrived on scene and positioned for egress as Incident Medical. Safety 35 and crews investigating on the second floor located what they believed to be smoke and fire between the first and second floor below apartments and requested additional manpower to start opening up garage doors to investigate for a possible fire. Engine 14 established a water supply from the plug to Engine 33. At 10:48 Dry Creek Command upgraded the assignment to a confirmed working multi-family structure fire with findings during investigation. Crews pulled a pre-connect from Engine 33 and stretched for fire attack in the void space between floors. Engine 31 arrived and established a second water supply and pulled two additional 1 3/4″ lines for attack. The stubborn fire was difficult to access and fully extinguish. 4 additional Engines over the 1st Alarm response were requested for additional personnel. Firefighters worked from above and below the fire to fully extinguish it and the incident was placed under control about an hour after crews arrived. Thankfully no injuries occurred, and apartment management is assisting any displaced residents with housing. Support personnel including Emergency Management, Emergency Vehicle Technicians from Fleet, Incident Dispatch and Logistics all responded to the scene. Fire Investigators determined that an electrical malfunction in a heater caused this fire. Additional information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue

Smoke Investigation Response:

Battalion Chief 5, Safety 35, Engine 33 & Tower 32

Reported Fire Response:

Battalion Chief 3, Engine 14, Tower 32, Tower 35 & Medic 31

Working Fire Response:

Battalion Chief 4, District Chief 1, Med 1, Engine 31, Tower 34 & Medic 34

Special Request Over 1st Alarm:

Battalion Chief 4, Safety 18, Engine 42, Engine 15, Engine 43, Engine 44, & PIO 10

Special Call:

OEM 10, Bureau 13, Bureau 33, EMS 14, Fleet 34, & Logistics

South Metro Emergency Communications: IDT 11

Arapahoe Rescue Patrol: Rehab 12 & Rescue 84

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office & Xcel Energy