Suites, seats catch fire at Denver Broncos' Empower Field at Mile High

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With a thick, black smoke plume that was seen throughout downtown Denver on Thursday afternoon, a fire burned in a portion of the club level on the east side of Empower Field at Mile High, which is home to the NFL's Broncos.

The Denver Fire Department responded at about 2:15 p.m. to a fire that began in a construction zone in that part of a stadium. The fire was under control by about 2:45 p.m.

There was a stadium tour underway at the time and the group, as well as employees who were working in that part of the stadium, were evacuated from the stadium. No injuries were reported.

Fire now under control at Mile high Stadium. Sprinklers attempted to stop the fire, but firefighters were needed to complete extinguishment. Heavy fire & smoke was found on our arrival media briefing to take place at 3:00 p.m. on east side of stadium. <a href=«https://twitter.com/DenSafetyDept?ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>@DenSafetyDept

<a href=«https://twitter.com/CityofDenver?ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>@CityofDenver pic.twitter.com/7AjPg1x1AN

A Denver Fire Department spokesman said the fire covered «over 1,000 square feet'' and began on a suite level — the fourth level — of the stadium and then spread into seats in the third level.

Stadium officials said the fire originated near the East Club Lounge.

The sprinkler system engaged in the suite level, but the fire department was called to extinguish the fire in the seats as well as ensure the fire in the suite level was out.

The smoke from the burning seats was seen throughout downtown. The stadium also sits adjacent to Interstate 25 so traffic was impacted as people slowed to see the fire.

The stadium seats 76,125 people, including 8,200 club seats and 144 suites. It opened