Area Around Littleton Gas Leak Fire Is Safe: Xcel Energy

LITTLETON, CO — Xcel Energy says that it is working with fire officials and emergency responders to make sure that the area around a Littleton home that caught fire due to a gas leak explosion is safe. The incident has also been upgraded to a "mass casualty event" since at least seven people were hospitalized, South Metro Fire Metro said in a tweet.

“Our thoughts are with the people affected by this incident,” the company said in a statement released to FOX31. “We are working with fire officials and emergency responders on the scene, and our emergency responders have completed safety checks of the area to confirm it is safe. We are coordinating with fire officials and after several performance checks, our systems are working as designed. Protecting the safety of the public and our employees is a core value and we take it very seriously.”

Related: 6 People Hospitalized After Explosion In Littleton Home

The investigation includes using thermal imaging cameras to monitor heat and smoke from the basement, where the fire started. Emergency crews continue to ventilate the house and continue to check all home meters, according to South Metro Fire twitter.

A fire broke out Sunday just before 10:52 a.m. on South Broadway in Littleton, according to the South Metro Fire Rescue. Neighbors have told different news outlets that an explosion that knocked out windows occurred just before the fire. Inside the home was a family of eight, who was renting the house on Airbnb. Six of them were taken to a hospital after the fire, and listed in stable condition as of Sunday afternoon. South Metro Fire spokesperson Connor Christian said that injuries were minor.

Because seven people in total were treated, incident commanders upgraded the fire to a “mass casualty event."

The family and neighbors told fire crews that they smelled gas prior to the fire. South Metro said in a tweet that it was unable to find the exact ignition source, but confirmed that there was a gas leak in the home before the explosion and fire.

Southbound lanes of Broadway were closed while the investigation was underway, but reopened Sunday afternoon.