Firefighters are investigating the cause of an apartment fire that started Monday afternoon in South Durango.

The fire was reported at 3:35 p.m., and the first unit arrived on scene seven minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from a downstairs unit, said Randy Black, deputy chief of operations with Durango Fire Protection District.

“There was black smoke coming from a corner first-floor unit that quickly progressed to where flames were coming out of the building as crews were arriving,” Black said.

The fire was knocked down within eight minutes, he said.

A woman was taken to the hospital with burns, Black said. It was unknown if the woman was burned while trying to battle the fire. The woman’s identity was not released.

Only one of the four apartments in the two-story structure in the 300 block of East Eighth Avenue appeared to be damaged, he said. Firefighters were investigating whether the fire caused damage to the electrical system or gas lines of the complex.

“I believe at this point the other three units are going to be habitable, but we’re trying to make that decision,” Black said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of 5 p.m.

Police closed several city blocks to give firefighters room to work.

About 30 volunteers and staff members with DFPD responded with two engines, a ladder truck, two ambulances and a brush truck.

shane@durangoherald.com