A fire inside a drainage pipe near West Belleview Avenue and South Prince Street turned an otherwise routine Sunday into a strange scene for Littleton neighbors, as South Metro Fire Rescue crews worked to chase down stubborn hotspots underground.
Officials said the blaze was brought under control and no injuries were reported, but firefighters stayed on site to make sure nothing smoldering inside the pipe could flare back up.
What officials reported
According to KDVR, the flames were contained to a storm drainage pipe, and crews were developing a plan to safely enter the pipe and douse any remaining hotspots. The outlet reported that South Metro asked the public to steer clear of the area while operations were underway.
How crews responded
In a statement from South Metro Fire Rescue, the agency confirmed the incident was under control and that firefighters were coordinating a safe way to get into the drainage system to put out smoldering material. Crews planned to remain on scene to monitor conditions until they were confident the fire would not rekindle.
Public safety and traffic
Neighbors and drivers were urged to avoid the intersection while firefighters worked in and around the storm drain. Officials also reminded the public to call 911 if they see heavy smoke or fire in drainage areas instead of trying to investigate on their own. Early information did not spell out specific road closures, but motorists in the area were told to brace for brief delays.
What we know and what remains unknown
As of Sunday evening, investigators had not released a possible cause of the fire. Authorities also had not indicated whether utilities or nearby businesses were affected. Fire officials and city authorities are expected to share more information if they determine what sparked the blaze or if cleanup will lead to longer-term access or traffic restrictions in the area.
