An early morning blaze that erupted in a Centennial strip mall has put a stop to operations at four local businesses after extensive fire damage. The incident, which unfolded at 11001 E. Arapahoe Place, began shortly after 1 a.m. on Thursday and required nearly two hours of intense firefighting before South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) teams could bring it under control. The affected businesses have been listed as Bawarchi Indian Cuisine, Happy Paw Grooming, Baker's Inn, and Vi Vi Vietnamese Noodle Soup & Grill, according to KDVR.
Firefighting units initially believed they had managed to contain the fire to just one section of the building. However, SMFR discovered an active fire on the roof as they were clearing the building of smoke, presenting an unforeseen challenge to the response effort. The strip mall, which lies just east of S. Havana Street, was subsequently closed in two lanes of eastbound Arapahoe Road, where the firefighters got the flames under control by 2:53 a.m., as reported by Denver7.
The building has now been declared uninhabitable by Centennial's building inspector, leaving all four businesses unable to operate from the premises. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by the South Metro Fire Rescue's Marshal's Office. Information from both the scene and social media posts indicates that fire investigators have entered the premises and started their careful examination to pinpoint the fire's origin, as was conveyed by the Denver Gazette report.
While the fire was brought under control without injuries, the businesses now face an uncertain future as they grapple with the aftermath of the blaze. A team of about 50 firefighters contributed to the control and extinguishment of the fire, ensuring that it did not spread further, demonstrating the coordinated efforts of SMFR and ensuring that no injuries were reported from the incident, as per KDVR. As caution must still be exercised when traveling through the area, drivers have been asked to remain vigilant due to the presence of operational firefighting crews and the ongoing investigative work at the strip mall site.
