The Altitude Apartments were evacuated around 7:40 p.m. Thursday while ground and aerial units battled the blaze east of 27th Street and Glen Avenue. Emergency crews launched an aerial attack, with a helicopter conducting water drops over the area. The fire appeared to have started between 23rd and 27th streets, east of Palmer Avenue, according to Walt Stowe, a spokesperson for the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency responders were able to slow the spread of the fire Thursday evening and worked into the night to contain it. The evacuation order was lifted around 8:40 p.m. and fire crews were pulled from the area on Friday morning.

The fire was estimated to be approximately an acre in size, according to the Glenwood Springs Fire Department.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Stowe confirmed that officials heard an explosion from a propane tank near the site but said it was unclear whether that caused the fire or accelerated it. He noted there are known encampments of unhoused people in the area but could not confirm a connection. Early on the fire was producing black smoke as opposed to the lighter smoked produced from burning vegetation.

The Glenwood Springs Fire Department led the response, with mutual aid from Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District and Roaring Fork Fire and Rescue. The Glenwood Springs Police Department also assisted on scene.

At 1 p.m. on Friday, a fire that broke out in a rugged gully northeast of Walmart in Glenwood Springs on Thursday night has been extinguished, according to the Glenwood Springs Fire Department.

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