Early commuters on South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton were greeted Monday by a towering column of black smoke instead of the usual rush-hour brake lights, after a commercial fuel truck caught fire and shut down the busy corridor in both directions.
The blaze erupted just before 5:40 a.m. between West Belleview Avenue and West Union Avenue in front of a U-Haul facility, and crews quickly closed Santa Fe Drive in all directions while they worked to secure the scene.
Hazmat team called to the scene
South Metro Fire Rescue classified the incident as a potential hazardous-materials situation and said crews were especially concerned about the tanker’s proximity to nearby buildings, according to South Metro Fire Rescue. Hazmat and special operations units moved in to stop any leaks and cool the vehicle to keep the flames from spreading and to reduce the risk of an explosion.
Road closures and travel impact
The Littleton Police Department shut down Santa Fe Drive in all directions at the scene and urged drivers to stay away while first responders worked, according to the Littleton Police Department. Traffic was diverted onto local streets as crews set up a wide safety perimeter around the burning tanker.
Multiple agencies responding
The response quickly became a multi-agency effort. The Denver Fire Department and Englewood Police Department joined South Metro crews at the scene, and Colorado Department of Transportation cameras picked up the plume of smoke from miles away, as reported by Denver7. In the early hours of the incident, officials said details were still developing, and they were focused on stabilizing the situation.
Why tanker fires are treated as hazmat events
Fuel tankers carry large amounts of highly flammable liquid, which means a crash or fire can quickly turn into both a fire emergency and a contamination risk if the tank ruptures. Hazmat teams in these situations concentrate on stopping leaks, cooling hot surfaces, and shielding nearby structures, according to South Metro Fire Rescue’s hazmat guidance. Those steps are designed to limit the chance of a wider spill or dangerous exposure to toxic smoke.
Local context on Santa Fe Drive
This stretch of Santa Fe Drive has seen other recent fire-related closures, a reminder that any incident on the heavily traveled route can ripple across the south metro commute. A March shutdown that snarled traffic in the area brought cars to a standstill for hours, as per Hoodline.
As of the initial updates on Monday, officials had not reported any injuries, and the cause of the fuel truck fire remained under investigation, per Denver7. This story will be updated as South Metro Fire Rescue and local agencies release additional details.
