Firefighters continue to work the scene of an overnight construction site fire Jan. 3, 2026, on Leetsdale Drive, between South Forest Street and South Hudson Street in Denver. (Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
It was a rough start to the year for Embrey Partners.
Late Friday, the San Antonio-based firm’s construction site along Leetsdale Drive in Denver caught fire.
Much of the Harker Heights apartment project, which plans show was to have 283 units across 431,000 square feet, was reduced to ash and rubble.
“I don’t know that any of us have seen this scale of fire ever in our career,” Denver Fire Division Chief Robert Murphy said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. “[I’m] in my 30th year with Denver fire and this is the first five-alarm fire, almost six-alarm fire, that we’ve ever had.”
Embrey bought the 5-acre site near the corner of Forest Street in 2021, paying $9 million. Construction was supposed to be completed this year, according to the building’s website.
Denver Fire Chief Desmond Fulton said “multiple portions” of the building collapsed.
The fire scene Jan 3. (Courtesy Raanan Moore)
“You’re seeing a fresh face on the side here, but inside it’s been completely gutted by fire,” Murphy added.
The department said it is still investigating what caused the blaze.
In a statement, Embrey thanked firefighters but did not detail what it plans to do next with the property, which is still under the control of Denver Fire. The company has a $65 million construction loan from Dallas-based Comerica Bank set to mature in March 2027, according to public records.
The developer has built 11 buildings in Colorado and is working through several other metro-area projects, including one in Belcaro and another next to a new Costco in Littleton.
Firefighters continue to work the scene of an overnight construction site fire Jan. 3, 2026, on Leetsdale Drive, between South Forest Street and South Hudson Street in Denver. (Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
It was a rough start to the year for Embrey Partners.
Late Friday, the San Antonio-based firm’s construction site along Leetsdale Drive in Denver caught fire.
Much of the Harker Heights apartment project, which plans show was to have 283 units across 431,000 square feet, was reduced to ash and rubble.
“I don’t know that any of us have seen this scale of fire ever in our career,” Denver Fire Division Chief Robert Murphy said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. “[I’m] in my 30th year with Denver fire and this is the first five-alarm fire, almost six-alarm fire, that we’ve ever had.”
Embrey bought the 5-acre site near the corner of Forest Street in 2021, paying $9 million. Construction was supposed to be completed this year, according to the building’s website.
Denver Fire Chief Desmond Fulton said “multiple portions” of the building collapsed.
The fire scene Jan 3. (Courtesy Raanan Moore)
“You’re seeing a fresh face on the side here, but inside it’s been completely gutted by fire,” Murphy added.
The department said it is still investigating what caused the blaze.
In a statement, Embrey thanked firefighters but did not detail what it plans to do next with the property, which is still under the control of Denver Fire. The company has a $65 million construction loan from Dallas-based Comerica Bank set to mature in March 2027, according to public records.
The developer has built 11 buildings in Colorado and is working through several other metro-area projects, including one in Belcaro and another next to a new Costco in Littleton.
