A fire started Friday afternoon in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue in Durango. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)
A fire started Friday afternoon in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue in Durango. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)cca

East Eighth Avenue in south Durango closed for about two hours Friday afternoon from Third Street to Fifth Street as Durango Fire Protection District and law enforcement investigated an apartment fire that destroyed a unit at the 8th Ave Apartments.

The street reopened shortly before 3 p.m. as the investigation remained ongoing.

The blaze, which erupted midafternoon at 350 East Eighth Ave., was quickly suppressed by firefighters.

A fire started in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue Friday afternoon. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)
A fire started in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue Friday afternoon. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)cca
A unit of the 8th Ave Apartments caught fire Friday afternoon. The fire was quickly extinguished, although it resulted in one resident being transported for care after smoke inhalation and the closure of Eighth Avenue from Third Street to Fifth Street. (Courtesy of Nicole Williams)
A unit of the 8th Ave Apartments caught fire Friday afternoon. The fire was quickly extinguished, although it resulted in one resident being transported for care after smoke inhalation and the closure of Eighth Avenue from Third Street to Fifth Street. (Courtesy of Nicole Williams)

Fire investigators on scene, alongside police, were working to determine the cause of the fire, which incinerated a unit.

“It got hot,” said Fire Chief Randy Black. “… That unit is not habitable.”

A fire started in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue Friday afternoon. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)
A fire started in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue Friday afternoon. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)cca
A fire started in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue Friday afternoon. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)
A fire started in an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue Friday afternoon. The unit was “uninhabitable,” Durango Fire Protection District Chief Randy Black said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)cca

Inside, contents of the small unit appeared severely charred, and water soaked the ground.

Residents of the complex reported hearing a “boom” before the fire started. Neighbors first reported the fire to 911 dispatch.

Two DFPD engines, two ambulances and multiple other emergency response vehicles were on scene.

Smoke rises from the remnant of an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue where a fire started Friday afternoon. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)
Smoke rises from the remnant of an apartment unit on East Eighth Avenue where a fire started Friday afternoon. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)cca

He said the extent of the damage is unclear at this time, although significant damage was visible outside of the unit. One resident was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

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Herald staff writer Christian Burney contributed to this report.