Trash Compactor Fire Prompts Temporary Evacuation at Chapel Hills Mall
A fire at a DICK’S Sporting Goods location inside Chapel Hills Mall prompted a temporary evacuation Tuesday afternoon as Colorado Springs firefighters responded to a blaze in the store’s trash compactor.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department was dispatched to the store at 1710 Briargate Boulevard shortly after 3:30 p.m. Crews located the fire in a trash compactor located in the back of the store.
Firefighters worked to remove the compactor from the building so they could fully extinguish the fire and check for any remaining hot spots. The removal was initially complicated by the compactor’s wheels becoming stuck, requiring assistance from Waste Management and a towing company. Cardboard inside the compactor also made it more difficult for crews to reach the source of the fire.
The mall was temporarily evacuated while crews worked to contain the fire and assess air quality. No injuries were reported.
Chapel Hills Mall later reopened Tuesday evening, although DICK’S Sporting Goods remained closed due to smoke damage. Officials also conducted air-quality testing before allowing other businesses to resume operations.
The incident remains under investigation, and no cause of the fire has been publicly identified.
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