Denver firefighters work on an incident in Tortillas Mexico on 11th Avenue at Santa Fe Drive, May 10, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
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Denver firefighters work on an incident in Tortillas Mexico on 11th Avenue at Santa Fe Drive, May 10, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
By Kevin J. Beaty and Ashley Dean
A fire broke out Tuesday evening at Tortilla Mexico, a local, family-owned tortillería on 11th Avenue just off Santa Fe Drive.
As firefighters worked to put out the two-alarm blaze that sent up a large black cloud of smoke over the highly trafficked area at rush hour, Natanael Chavez, an employee there, told Denverite the 14-or-so people inside evacuated safely.
One person was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, according to the Denver Fire Department.
One of the boilers exploded, he said, and within just a few minutes the building at 840 W. 11th Ave. was on fire.
"I tried to do something to stop the fire," he said, "but what could I do?"
Natanael Chavez, an employee, speaks to press.
This was the second fire in Denver on Tuesday. Around 2 a.m., two under-construction buildings just off Federal Boulevard were destroyed in a three- alarm fire. No one was hurt.
Denver firefighters work on an incident at Tortillas Mexico. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Tortillas Mexico employees watch as Denver firefighters put out the fire. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Bystanders watch from across the street. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Tortillas Mexico employees watch as Denver firefighters prepare to enter the building. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
A Denver firefighter watches the scene after spraying the building from above. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Denver firefighters connect hoses to a fire hydrant. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Santa Fe Drive was shut down after Tortillas Mexico broke out in flames. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
