Explosion at Centennial Hotel Forces Evacuation of 93 Guests

Two deputies treated for minor smoke inhalation after responding to the incident.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Ninety-three people were evacuated from the Extended Stay America hotel in Centennial, Colorado on Sunday afternoon after an explosion occurred in a second-floor room. Two deputies who helped evacuate the guests were treated for minor smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but firefighters were able to contain the fire to the single hotel room.

Why it matters

Hotel explosions and fires can pose serious risks to public safety, especially in crowded facilities like this one that was housing 93 guests. The quick response and evacuation by law enforcement and firefighters likely prevented more serious injuries or casualties. Determining the cause of the explosion is important to understand if it was an accident or intentional act.

The details

According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the first two deputies on the scene saw a shattered window and smoke coming from a second-floor room. They forced entry into the unoccupied room and began evacuating all the second-floor rooms. South Metro Fire Rescue later confirmed that a woman and two children had been in the room where the fire started and had already evacuated. One dog and one cat were also rescued from the building.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.

The players

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the explosion and assisted with the evacuation of the hotel.

South Metro Fire Rescue

The fire department that responded to the scene and helped contain the fire to the single hotel room.

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What they’re saying

“The first two deputies to arrive on scene saw a shattered window and smoke coming from a second-floor room. They immediately forced entry into the room and confirmed it was unoccupied. The deputies then began evacuating all second-floor rooms.”

— Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (kktv.com)

What’s next

Investigators will continue to examine the cause of the explosion and determine if any criminal charges are warranted.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of swift emergency response and evacuation procedures in hotels to protect public safety when unexpected incidents occur. The quick actions of law enforcement and firefighters likely prevented more serious harm to guests.