LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — Mandatory evacuations have been lifted in southeast Wellington following a home explosion Wednesday afternoon.
Wellington Fire, along with Poudre Fire and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, responded to the 7500 block of Little Fox around 3:11 p.m. for reports of a possible explosion. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a two-story home with damage and a couple of fires burning, according to the Wellington Fire Department chief.
Evacuations were ordered from Jockey Drive south to the area of Little Fox Lane to Back Stretch Drive.
"I happened to be in the living room on the phone with a coworker. And I heard just a really loud boom," said neighbor Autumn Friedmansky.
No residents were inside the home when the explosion occurred, the chief said. Two dogs were rescued from the home.
"I got outside and immediately could smell gas," said Isaac Padilla, who lives nearby.
LCSO is assisting @WellingtonFire1. Road closures are in place in the immediate area surrounding the impacted home. Please look to Wellington Fire for any info/updates. https://t.co/XYpxJAbPpD
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) November 15, 2023
The evacuations were lifted by about 4:40 p.m.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office arson and fire investigators.
"People's lives could have easily been lost today... it's extremely scary," said Friedmansky.
