Homes Evacuated When Fire Spreads From Burning Building

BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4)- Some homes were evacuated in Brighton after flames from a building that caught fire on Friday afternoon started to spread.

Explosions heard coming from the burning building are likely exploding tires and flammable liquid.

"We were at our house and we started smelling smoke so we went outside and that was when it was little and it started getting bigger," said one Brighton resident.

The fire stared just before 4 p.m. Friday at a commercial building in the 300 block of North Main Street in Brighton.

"It was a defensive fight when they saw how much heat and smoke they had and took a look at the building, we decided to fight it from the outside," said Brighton Fire Chief Mark Bodane. "We do know the fire originated in some cars that were inside an auto body shop but we don't know an exact cause."

Thick black smoke billowed from the building. Main Street was closed north of Bridge. Residents have been advised to stay away from the area.

The building was home to a few businesses including a popular carniceria and an auto body shop.

Firefighters started evacuating nearby homes. They were concerned the flames from the fire would spread.

It is unclear what caused the fire. One person was trapped inside but that person was able to get out before firefighters arrived.

The roof collapsed into the building and is a total loss.

"This is like a piece of Brighton history and it breaks my heart, it's been here for ever and ever and ever, it's just sad," said one Brighton resident.

Crews were still on scene Friday night, more than six hours after the fire started, putting out hot spots. Firefighters were expected to remain at the smoldering building all night.

Fire investigators were expected to be at the building Saturday morning to determine the cause of the fire.