Teen rescued from abandoned missile silo in Colorado near Arapahoe County Fairgrounds

South Metro Fire Rescue and Sable Altura Fire crews rescued a teenager from an abandoned missile silo near the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds early Wednesday morning. One person, an 18-year-old female, was rescued and taken to the hospital for further evaluation. 

Crews rushed to 25690 E. Quincy Avenue just after 6 a.m.

According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the female was with two other juveniles, another female and male, one 16 years old and the other 17 years old, when they climbed down the ladder into the abandoned missile silo around 3 - 3:30 a.m. The two other teens were able to get out but the 18-year-old was not. The two others called 911, prompting the rescue. 

"Do not enter these abandoned missile silos," said Ginger Delgado with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. "This is extremely dangerous."

The missile silo where the rescue happened is about 50 to 60 feet deep. 

"There are dangerous gases inside that could harm you. There is carbon dioxide. You could be poisoned. You could be injured from falling," said Delgado. 

Delgado said this is the third rescue from an abandoned missile silo in two years in Arapahoe County. 

"This is the third time that we've had to make a rescue in abandoned missile silos. The first time was in May 2024, out in Deer Trail. You may remember that a young man went through that silo, and he was very seriously injured. We had one last year near the town of Bennet, where we had to rescue another teenager in a missile silo. This is the third one," said Delgado.  

The 18-year-old was taken "non-emergent" to the hospital by paramedics from Sable Altura Fire. 

The abandoned missile silo is located on private property. At the time of the rescue, Arapahoe County did not know the identity of owner of the private property where the silo was located. 

Exactly what happened leading up to the rescue is still being investigated, but the teens may be facing charges. 

"At this point, the charges are pending. We have not decided whether we are going to file criminal charges against these kids. We're still going to take the time and figure out what happened, whether or not to charge them with trespassing. The charges could be third-degree criminal trespass; we're not sure yet. They also violated curfew laws," said Delgado. 

"Please, please stay out of these missile silos," said Delgado.