Denver Broncos stadium fire torches seats, suite area
DENVER (AP) — Firefighters extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos’ stadium on Thursday.
The fire broke out on the fourth level at Empower Field at Mile High just after 2 p.m. and spread to the third level, where it burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control but were trying to determine if it had spread to other areas of the football stadium, which seats 76,125 people.
Stadium officials said in a statement on Twitter that the fire occurred in a construction zone near the East Club Lounge. At least 100 people were attending an event on the second level, but the stadium was otherwise empty.
About 75 firefighters were on scene at the height of the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Footage from a news helicopter showed several firefighters using water hoses to extinguish the blaze, which sent a large plume of black smoke billowing out of the stadium near downtown Denver. The Denver Fire Department tweeted several photos showing large flames spreading through the seating area.
Capt. Greg Pixley, a spokesman for the fire department, said it appears the fire originated in the suite but was partially suppressed by a sprinkler system. It then spread to the seats, which are made of plastic.
“This type of plastic that the seats are composed of burns with not only significant ferocity, very large flames, but also produces a tremendous amount of black smoke,” he said.
Investigators have not said what caused the fire, which burned at least 1,000 square feet (93 square meters).
A welder’s torch was blamed for starting a similar fire that burned plastic seats in the west stands of the old Mile High Stadium in January 2002.
“Our firefighters have an experience with this type of fire fight. … Any time that you have a fire on an upper level, you’re going to have to move a great deal of equipment to that environment. So our firefighters brought a number of heavy pieces of hose and equipment, saws and the like, to be able to help them extinguish this fire,” Pixley said Thursday.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksKevin Hoffman/Getty Images North America/TNS
Had one of the truly great under-the-radar seasons in NFL history a year ago and the gold standard in terms of a passer who can also run (4,407 yards passing, 36 TDs, 763 yards rushing, six touchdowns). Solid offseason acquisitions for the Bills included guard Rodger Saffold, tight end O.J. Howard and pass rusher Von Miller.
Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images North America/TNSHad one of the truly great under-the-radar seasons in NFL history a year ago and the gold standard in terms of a passer who can also run (4,407 yards passing, 36 TDs, 763 yards rushing, six touchdowns). Solid offseason acquisitions for the Bills included guard Rodger Saffold, tight end O.J. Howard and pass rusher Von Miller.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksDavid Becker
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David BeckerThe Chiefs added JuJu Smith-Schuster to an offense that already has Tyreek HIll and Travis Kelce. Still trying to figure out what happened to Mahomes in the second half of the AFC title game loss to the Bengals, but am going to assume it was just a bad day.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksMark LoMoglio
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksLynne Sladky
You'll notice the Nos. 3 and 4 quarterbacks on this list were acquired specifically with the idea of making a good team a great one by their mere presence, and both delivered Super Bowl championships. Why draft and develop when you can fill football's most important position with a trade?
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksAdam Hunger
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Adam HungerThe Bengals signed La'el Collins and Cappa to upgrade the line that saw Burrow get sacked 51 times take a beating in the postseason. If Cincinnati gets its protection shored up, Burrow can put up much bigger numbers than last year's 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns. He's that good.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksJeff Bottari
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Jeff BottariWide receiver Mike Williams was retained with a three-year contract extension, but offense wasn't the Chargers' problem. Watch how much better Herbert gets in terms of the bottom line if free agent cornerback J.C. Jackson lives up to his contract and with Khalil Mack as a bookend pass rusher to go along with Joey Bosa.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksJeffrey Phelps
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Jeffrey PhelpsRodgers played poorly in the playoff loss to the 49ers and his penchant for being overly dramatic is wearing thin. He's also without Davante Adams, dealt to the Raiders. But he's won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards and he's going to the Hall of Fame, so he can't be counted out.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksDavid Zalubowski
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksEmilee Chinn
Helped coax his longtime Fresno State friend Adams to Las Vegas in a deal that instantly makes the Raiders potentially something special on offense. With Adams, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, Carr's red zone issues should be a thing of the past if the Raiders can protect him.
Emilee ChinnHelped coax his longtime Fresno State friend Adams to Las Vegas in a deal that instantly makes the Raiders potentially something special on offense. With Adams, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, Carr's red zone issues should be a thing of the past if the Raiders can protect him.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksZach Bolinger
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Zach BolingerYes, he could be suspended and it's more than a little distasteful so many teams were willing to overlook 22 civil suits to throw bags of money at one of the NFL's dynamic talents. But if the guy is getting $230 million guaranteed, a lot of people will overlook his indiscretions and he'll be the biggest thing in Cleveland since LeBron James.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksRoger Steinman
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Roger SteinmanShould be good for another 4,449 yards passing and 37 touchdowns for the Cowboys. Still perplexed by the sight of Prescott running the ball up the middle and running out the clock against the 49ers in the playoffs, but that doesn't change the fact he's among the elite of the suddenly quarterback-thin NFC.
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Source: Chiefs send Hill to Dolphins for draft picksDanny Karnik
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Danny KarnikAtlanta's whiff with Watson turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to Ryan. He joins a far superior Colts team that has a great lead back in Jonathan Taylor, solid receivers and a good defense. In terms of decision-making and stability, a huge upgrade over Carson Wentz on a team that's ready to win.
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Denver Broncos stadium fire torches seats, suite areaHOGP
In this photo provided by the Denver Fire Department, firefighters battle flames at Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos' stadium. The fire broke out in the third-level and burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. (Denver Fire Department via AP)
HOGPIn this photo provided by the Denver Fire Department, firefighters battle flames at Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos' stadium. The fire broke out in the third-level and burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. (Denver Fire Department via AP)
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Denver Broncos stadium fire torches seats, suite areaHOGP
In this photo provided by the Denver Fire Department, firefighters battle a fire at Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos' stadium. The fire broke out in the third-level and burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. (Denver Fire Department via AP)
HOGPIn this photo provided by the Denver Fire Department, firefighters battle a fire at Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos' stadium. The fire broke out in the third-level and burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. (Denver Fire Department via AP)
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Denver Broncos stadium fire torches seats, suite areaHOGP
In this photo provided by the Denver Fire Department, a fire burns at Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos' stadium. The fire broke out in the third-level and burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. (Denver Fire Department via AP)
HOGPIn this photo provided by the Denver Fire Department, a fire burns at Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that torched several rows of seats and a suite area at the Denver Broncos' stadium. The fire broke out in the third-level and burned at least six rows of seats in two sections. (Denver Fire Department via AP)
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