A late-night fire at a Littleton apartment building left one person dead and briefly forced several neighbors out into the night as crews worked to secure the scene, authorities said. South Metro Fire Rescue and the Littleton Police Department rushed to the complex late Tuesday, fanning out to search the building and make sure residents were safe.
Responders were called to a reported multi-family structure fire at 5531 S. Delaware St., where firefighters contained the flames to a single apartment and found one person who could not be revived. Roughly 10 to 12 displaced residents were allowed back into their homes by about 2:30 a.m., after crews finished overhaul and safety checks, according to 9News.
Containment and displacement
South Metro Fire Rescue said the fire was successfully kept from spreading beyond the one affected unit. Firefighters conducted an orderly search of nearby apartments to confirm there were no additional victims and to check for hidden fire. About a dozen residents were temporarily displaced while crews worked, and responders cleared the scene once they determined the building was safe, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.
Investigation underway
The cause of the fire is under investigation by South Metro and the Littleton Police Department, and officials say they will release more details as they become available. Initial information about the incident was reported by 9News, which cited fire officials at the scene.
