Fire, Explosions Shut Down 'W' Light Rail Line In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- The light rail "W" line has been shut down at 13th and Harlan in Lakewood because of a fire and explosions.

West Metro Firefighters rushed to the light rail line because of reports of smoke from underground pipes located under the tracks. The pipes are not part of the RTD facilities.

"When we showed up there was fire coming from the drainage ditches on both sides," said West Metro Fire Rescue spokesman Jasen McConaghy.

A detective with the Lakewood Police Department was also in the area on unrelated work when an explosion was heard. Shortly after arriving on scene two more explosions were heard.

"They were minor explosions. You could feel them go off. You could see manholes rattle a little bit, see fire coming through one of the manholes," said McConaghy.

The Jeffco Bomb Squad responded once the explosions happened.

When firefighters arrived they found a mattress that had caught on fire. That fire is believed to have spread to a transient camp inside a water drainage tunnel where propane tanks were being kept, which then exploded. The propane tanks are similar to those used for camping.

Further investigation will take place in determining whether the mattress was intentionally set and who occupies the transient camp.

"A mattress was set on fire, we think accidentally, and a couple of smaller propane canisters exploded and that's what caused our initial response," said McConaghy.

The light rail was shut down from the Wadsworth station to the Sheridan station about 12:45 p.m. RTD has a so-called "bus bridge" to take riders between the stops.

Harlan Street was also blocked off during the investigation.

The light rail line was shut down for about three hours and reopened at 3:45 p.m. It was not effected by the explosion.

The W line goes from the Jefferson County Justice Center in Golden to Union Station in downtown Denver with several stops that include the Federal Center and Sheridan Boulevard.