x
Breaking News
More () »

Subcontractor burned after construction crew sparks fire under Denver street

A crew working near 17th and Arapahoe streets in downtown Denver sparked a fire under the street.

DENVER — Editor's note: An earlier version of this story inaccurately identified who the Denver Fire Department spokesperson said was burned. The story has since been updated.

An Xcel Energy subcontractor was burned after a construction crew hit an electrical line and sparked a fire under the street in the area of 17th Street and Arapahoe Street in downtown, a spokesperson for Denver Fire said.

The fire ran under 17th Street from Lawrence Street to Champa Street, according to Denver Fire.

Roads in that area were closed Friday, according to the Denver Police Department.

A woman who was out for a walk during her lunch break said she was also burned.

She said she heard a loud boom right as she was about the cross the street.

"Whenever I turned away from it so my face wouldn't get hit, I could feel the heat on top of my head," Capri Patronetti said. "So I smacked it with my hand so I could put it out. I could smell my burned hair."

Patronetti said she went to the doctor, who gave her some medicine for the pain.

The Denver Fire Department and Xcel Energy responded to the area. 

SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS 

Before You Leave, Check This Out