Wildfire Devastates Hundreds of BMWs in Thornton

A wildfire that burned across 10 acres in Thornton on Wednesday claimed about 150 BMW vehicles, according to local authorities. The blaze started after a passerby noticed smoldering mulch near Pinnacle Charter High School at 8412 Huron St. The fire department received the call around 11:30 a. m. and quickly called for additional help, as the fire spread fast across open space. Within minutes, the incident escalated from a first alarm to multiple alarms before firefighters arrived on scene. Roughly 150 responders fought the flames, bringing the fire under control by about 2 p. m. Three firefighters and a fire investigator were lightly injured; no civilians sustained injuries.Five businesses suffered damage, many of them auto repair shops. A luxury service center that specializes in BMW parts and repairs was hit hardest. The owner, Jason Rol, explained that the shop stores rare parts for enthusiasts rather than functioning as a junkyard. He counted 148 vehicles destroyed, including many restoration projects. The fire’s smoke billowed over metro Denver, and Rol expressed shock at the loss. He said this is his first day of real emotion about the incident, and he struggles to return to work each day.