The JCC Denver shuts down social media on Shabbos. An exception was made on the Friday evening of Jan. 2.
“We apologize for a message on Shabbat,” the Facebook message said. “Fire personnel are asking everyone to steer clear. We are hopeful we will open tomorrow, 1/3.” The same message was also sent by email.
Little did the JCC and residents, businesses and synagogues in East Denver know how huge and unprecedented the fire would be.
The largest fire in Denver’s history in more than 30 years was at the construction site of the Harker Heights apartment complex at 5337 Leetsdale, across from Hilltop Reserve, adjacent to the JCC, near the East Side Kosher Deli, Kohelet and Ann Lampert Realty.
The five-alarm fire consumed an entire city block. Firefighters were battling the blaze — still smoldering in areas of the complex still too dangerous to be reachable by crews — throughout the weekend and as of press time, Tueday, Jan. 5.
The JCC was closed through Sunday due to smoke damage, and reopened Monday.
Less fortunate were other businesses in the South Hilltop-Virginia Vale area. Ann Lampert Realty at 420 S. Forest was threatened by flames that came within 25 feet of its building.
“The five-alarm fire was right behind us,” said Mark Lampert. “It singed the building right next door, and we were maybe 25 feet from where the fire was.
“Firefighters kept us protected and we did not suffer anything damaged, but we have been without power since seven Friday night.
“Our building is filled with smoke, though, and obviously being less than 100 yards from the largest part of the fire, it could have been a lot worse.
“The wind was blowing from the west to the east, so the fire actually burned more onto the unfinished construction project, which was all wood.
“We were fortunate our structure is still there, but we can’t be in there because it’s so heavily smoked in there. The power is still not on, and that’s the biggest problem for us right now,” he said.
“Being in the fire district that I am in, I’ve seen a lot of fires, but never one this big that had well over 150 firefighters fighting the fire Friday night and all day Saturday.
“The largest one that I can recall was at University Hills Shopping Center back in the 1960s or early 70s. That was a four-alarm fire, which was the highest that they had at that time. Now they have a five and this one almost became a six, which is unheard of.”
Congregation Kohelet at 428 S. Forest suffered worse.
“It singed the back of the building,” said Dr. Neiel Baronberg, past president of Kohelet.
“There were also some windows that had to be taken out. The fire department did come into the building and did some mediation that they do to prevent further damage.
“The sanctuary in the building was not touched. The Torah scrolls were removed and we have removed the books and the other sefers and study materials.
“Some of the wooden structures in the back of our building were burned. We’re lucky we were all intact, although the back of the building was scorched and the siding will have to be replaced.
“These wonderful firemen were in control, and we’re lucky that the flames had not reached the building. We’ll be out of the building for a while, while the insurance adjustment people tell us what’s going on.
“We had a whole bunch of people out at the building over the weekend, taking things to our homes, making sure all of the sacred stuff was saved.
“Now we have some people involved with trying to find other congregations that’ll allow us to use their rooms or something of that sort. Some have stepped up and we’re going to try to choose something that’s in the neighborhood if we can. We also want to continue our services,” he said.
“That will be our primary goal.”
At press time, neither Kohelet nor Lampert Realty had received any insurance estimates from adjusters.
The last house of Jewish worship to be impacted by fire was in 1952, when BMH — then at 16th and Gaylord — managed to rescue its Torah scrolls and save them from fire.
By Jan. 5, the JCC reopened with large fans still pumping out remnants of the smoke in the building.
Nearby traffic was snarled, as it was all weekend.
A house of learning and worship, along with a stalwart in the business community, were operating solely through cell phone service.
Amazingly, Denver’s largest fire in recent history claimed no lives, although this will not be known for sure until the fire site is completely cleared away — an effort expected to take weeks.
© IJN 2026
