Denver Sees One of Its Largest Fires in Years as Apartment Complex Burns

On Friday, January 2, 2026, a massive fire broke out in Denver, Colorado, destroying an apartment complex that was being built. The fire was so big that over 100 firefighters were called to the scene, and some have spoken out about it being the largest they’d ever experienced.

A Fire Breaks Out in Denver, Colorado

Just before 7 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, an apartment complex that was under construction near Leetsdale Drive and South Forest Street in Denver caught fire.

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Luckily, because the apartment complex was still being constructed and crews had left for the day, no one was occupying the building when the fire broke out. The building, which was being built to be a multi-family residence with 238 units, was going to be called Harker Heights.

Colorado Firefighters Respond to the Fire

The fire, which has been categorized as a five-alarm fire, saw a total of 156 firefighters respond to put out the flames. Unfortunately, one firefighter was injured in the process, but it has been reported that as of the following morning, the firefighter, who was sent to the hospital for the injuries sustained, had been released and is recovering.

Veteran Colorado Firefighter Calls the Fire “Major”

While the simple fact that 156 firefighters were dispatched to put out the flames somewhat gives an idea of just how big this fire was, a quote from a veteran firefighter puts it into perspective much more.

The Denver Fire Department’s Division Chief of Operations, Robert Murphy, was interviewed about what he saw with regard to the fire, to which he responded with the following:

“It's major. I can't tell you the last time in Denver we had a fire this big.”

Murphy has been a firefighter for roughly 30 years.

Read More: Remembering Colorado’s Tragic Storm King Mountain Fire of 1994

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