AURORA, Colo. — Residents of the Heather Gardens community in Aurora, where a fire sparked Friday night, were warned about a “major gas leak” on the property two days prior, according to an email notice obtained by 9NEWS.
The email from Heather Gardens Security warned residents not to “light any matches, lighters, candles, or use anything that could cause a spark.”
The notice to residents said Xcel Energy and the Aurora Fire Department were on-site dealing with the leak between Building 223 and the cluster of homes called Country Place Five.
Initial reports from Aurora Fire and aerial photos from Sky9 indicate Friday’s fire was in the area of the community known as Country Place Four. Flames and smoke could be seen coming from at least two structures.
Lt. Laure Bridges, a spokesperson for the fire department, confirmed in a press conference Friday night that there was an explosion prior to the fire. She said she could not yet provide a cause, but did describe it as a gas-fed fire.
Several people have reached out to 9NEWS to say they could smell gas near Heather Gardens, near the intersection of East Iliff Avenue and Interstate 225, earlier in the day before the explosion occurred.
Mark Stutz, a spokesperson for Xcel Energy said in a statement that the two leaks were not related but were "both were caused by a non-Xcel Energy contractor working for a third party. The statement went on to read: "The Wednesday leak occurred in a different section of the same neighborhood and was repaired the same day."
The Heather Gardens release also said that the two leaks were not related.
Leslie Oliver with Comcast confirmed to 9NEWS that the company has been working at Heather Gardens to install new fiber optic network for the past several months. She could not comment on the cause of the fire or gas leaks.
Heather Gardens stated that the Public Utilities Commission asked Comcast to suspend the installation of fiber-optic cables until further notice and they have agreed.
Gas in the surrounding area was shut off as crews investigated. Stutz said Xcel is working to restore gas to about 230 residents in the area by Saturday afternoon.
As of Aurora Fire's most recent report, one person died and two others- including a firefighter - were taken to the hospital.
