2nd Body Found At Denver Construction Site Fire Scene

DENVER, CO -- Emergency workers found the remains of a second worker in the burned ruins of the construction site that burned down Wednesday. Denver Fire investigators have still not determined the cause of the fire at 1833 North Emerson in the city's North Capitol Hill neighborhood. A first body was found Wednesday.

One person was seriously injured, while five others were injured jumping from the second and third stories of the building, or trying to catch other people jumping, Captain Greg Pixley, Denver Fire spokesperson said. One firefighter suffered minor burns and was treated at a hospital.

Two cadaver dogs were on the scene to help search for the missing person, who was found "in close proximity" to the first body, Pixley said.

The "catastrophic and dangerous" fire took an hour and 20 minutes to contain by almost 100 firefighters, and completely destroyed the Emerson Place Apartments, under construction, Pixley said Wednesday. Nearby buildings were also affected, and a medical center to the south also caught fire and had to be evacuated. The intense heat destroyed several construction vehicles, as well as up to 30 cars in the nearby parking lot and damaged three fire trucks.

The medical examiner did not identify either of the people killed.

But workers from Englewood-based United Insulators posted a GoFundMe page for Roberto Flores, identifying him as the victim:

Roberto was caught in that awful fire at 18th and Emerson. There was no way out. He was on the fifth floor working when the fire broke out. We are trying to raise money to get his parents here (from Mexico) on an emergency visa. We also want to help his wife and his two children. Roberto was an excellent employee for United Insulators and was genuinely a fine human being. He will be sorely missed by everyone he worked with for the last three+ years at United. Police notified his immediate family that his body was found Thursday afternoon.

Residents evacuated

More than 200 residents who live near the 1800 block of North Emerson Street and had been evacuated from their homes Wednesday were allowed to briefly return Thursday. Friday morning, residents will be allowed to return between 7-10 a.m., Denver police said.

"City inspectors have identified multiple nearby buildings that have been damaged, or may have been damaged, as a result of the 1833 Emerson fire. It includes essentially all buildings on this block," the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security posted online. "The block has been fenced off and the buildings have been posted as unsafe. Depending on the damage to your building, some people may be displaced for several weeks until your building can be assessed and repaired. The Red Cross is able to provide housing options for people displaced by the fire."

People with pets were asked to have friends watch their animals until fire inspectors have made sure the buildings are safe, the office said.

Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.

Image: Fire at 1833 N. Emerson Street Wednesday via Denver Police