This story was updated at 5:19 p.m. Feb. 23

The Westminster Fire Department said a Feb. 23 explosion and fire at the Stratus Townhomes directly affected eight units. The complex is in the 8300 block of Sheridan Boulevard and is the second explosion to hit the area this week.

At mid-afternoon, firefighters were still putting out the fire; however, crews said all of the residents have been accounted for.

The extent of injuries and the cause of the blast are not known but neighbors said complex maintenance staff had been installing new air conditioners and water heaters in the buildings.

Neighbors said the explosion and subsequent fire came from building 18 in the center of the complex. Residents in buildings 16, 17, 18 and 19 were told to evacuate. Many evacuees huddled in the complex's business office to with pets to get away from the 10-degree weather, while complex staff worked to find emergency shelter for those affected.

'Whole building just blew'

Twila Hopkins said she was walking a dog for a friend when she saw the explosion go up in building 18. She said the glass broke and a big piece of glass may have fallen on someone working the area. 

"The whole building just blew," Hopkins said. "Everything went flying and the dog took off, and then a big window or something just fell over. And then the flames started"

She and other people started running door to door, notifying people in the buildings to leave. 

Morgan Nosbush, who lives in building 18 and works about 10 minutes away, received a notification on her Ring doorbell at 1:30 p.m. from her neighbors telling her to get out.

Neighbor James Squalls was watching the scene out of his front door. Squalls said he was home in his unit when he heard the explosion and ran outside.

"I heard the boom, and I ran outside and there was a big hole blown in the side of the building," Squalls said. "It was just gone. And then, about three or four minutes later, the flames just went up uncontrollably."

His car was parked in the lot directly in front of the building, but he was able to move it before the flames started. 

"I wanted to make room for the fire trucks and all," he said. "I was blessed. I am blessed. That's what I am."

A tweet from the Westminster Fire Department said school buses that normally drop students off at the townhomes wouldn't. Instead, parents were asked to go to the child's school and get them.

The southbound lanes of Sheridan Boulevard are open between West 80th and 88th avenues. But Westminster police expect the northbound lanes of Sheridan to remain closed through the afternoon. Alternate routes are Federal and Lowell boulevards.

Fire and animal control crews from Arvada, Adams County Fire, Federal Heights and Wheatridge were all on the scene.