DENVER — Eight people were hospitalized after an explosion inside an assisted living facility in Denver, and nearly 90 people have been displaced.
The Denver Fire Department (DFD) said in a social media post around 11:30 a.m. it was responding to a structure fire around Quebec Street and High Line Smith Way. This is just north of the intersection of E. Yale Avenue and S. Quebec Street.
Firefighters found that a transformer had caught fire near the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus but the flames had not reached the building, which is a large nursing and assisted living facility.
An explosion was reported inside the building, the DFD said.
Luis Cedillo, a captain with the DFD, said construction was underway at the time and there is a "high probability" that it could be related, but arson investigators would make a final determination. Shortly afterward, the DFD confirmed that during construction work Wednesday, "a power line was accidentally struck," which resulted in the explosion and transformer fire.
"We know that they needed immediate care and crews were able to quickly work with Denver Health and other EMS agencies and we were able to transport them as quickly as possible," Cedillo said of the residents.
Eight people were transported to a hospital, the fire department said. Two others were evaluated at the scene and cleared. The department did not have information on any injuries.
"This is something of a magnitude that’s not happened since I’ve been here," said Jane Cahn, who lives in a home on the property near the main building, where the explosion happened. That building houses assisted living and memory care residents, staff and residents told Denver7.
Officials added that 87 people have been displaced. As of this story's most-recent update, residents are not allowed back inside.
Amid the chaos and confusion, Sara Thorp scrambled to find her grandmother.
"This happened at 11:30, here it is 4:30 already," she told Denver7 on Wednesday. "Why haven't I heard anything? How is my 96-year-old grandma still missing?"
Eventually, Thorp found out her grandmother had been moved to a nearby facility, along with several other residents.
The Red Cross said it activated a disaster action team to respond to the retirement home and told Denver7 that, as of Wednesday evening, all residents have been picked up by family members or moved into temporary housing.
The powerful explosion has investigators trying to figure out if the building is still structurally sound.
The department also notified Xcel Energy, police said.
As of Thursday morning, the building was boarded up, Cedillo said.
"It will be a long time before residents can return," he said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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