An early morning adventure into an abandoned Cold War missile silo ended with a technical rescue after an 18-year-old woman became trapped roughly 50 to 60 feet underground in Arapahoe County, Colorado.
South Metro Fire Rescue‘s Technical Rescue Team and the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3 a.m. Wednesday to a confined-space rescue at private property near 25690 E. Quincy Ave., close to the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Fire officials said the woman had climbed down a ladder inside the abandoned missile silo but became stuck and could not climb back out.
Two other teenagers who were with her, ages 16 and 17, managed to get out and call 911. Rescue crews lowered specialized personnel into the confined space before safely bringing the woman back to the surface. She was transported by paramedics to a local hospital for further evaluation.
South Metro Fire Rescue said all responding units later returned to service after the rescue was completed.
Technical Rescue Team Pulled the Teen to Safety
Arapahoe sheriff deputies are on scene. PIO is en route. https://t.co/q5l3N6eSpO
— Arapahoe Sheriff (@ArapahoeSO) July 8, 2026
South Metro Fire Rescue first announced the incident shortly after 8 a.m., describing it as a confined-space rescue involving its Technical Rescue Team. During the operation, officials established a media staging area near the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds while crews worked below ground.
A short time later, the department confirmed the rescue had been successful.
“The individual has been rescued and is being transported non-emergent to a local hospital for further evaluation by paramedics from Sable Altura Fire,” South Metro Fire Rescue said in an update, thanking the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance.
The woman spent roughly 30 minutes trapped before rescuers brought her safely back to the surface. Local station KDVR reported the sheriff’s office is considering possible charges, including third-degree criminal trespass.
Authorities also mentioned possible curfew violations, although they have not announced whether any charges will ultimately be filed. It is also unclear how the group gained access to the private property, and the sheriff’s office has not identified the three people involved.
Officials Say This Is the Third Rescue at an Abandoned Missile Silo
Sheriff’s officials said this is not an isolated incident.
The sheriff’s office said this was the third rescue involving an abandoned missile silo in the area over the past several years, highlighting an ongoing problem with people exploring the decommissioned Cold War sites despite repeated warnings.
The sheriff’s office warned that these underground structures pose far more hazards than just the risk of falling. Officials said the silos can contain dangerous atmospheres, including elevated carbon dioxide levels that can poison people or oxygen-deficient air that can quickly incapacitate anyone who enters.
“They are dangerous,” sheriff’s office spokesperson Ginger Delgado said. “There are dangerous gases inside that could harm you. There’s carbon dioxide; you could be poisoned. Not to mention, injured from falling. Please, please stay out of these missile silos.”
Those dangers are not theoretical. In May 2024, rescue crews saved an 18-year-old after he fell through a two-story shaft inside another abandoned missile silo in Arapahoe County. Just months later, on New Year’s Day 2025, firefighters again responded after another teenager fell roughly 40 to 50 feet into what rescuers identified as an exhaust vent tunnel of a decommissioned Titan missile facility and had to be lifted out using a rope rescue system.
Following that incident, rescuers urged the public to leave Colorado’s abandoned missile sites “to the history books” because they are not safe places to explore.
Many Readers Say They Explored the Site Years Ago
The rescue quickly sparked debate online.
Several commenters said they remembered exploring the abandoned silo decades ago without incident, while others argued that anyone caught trespassing should face criminal charges or even be billed for the cost of the rescue.
Others questioned why the site remains accessible after multiple rescue operations, arguing that abandoned missile silos should be permanently sealed if they continue attracting curious explorers.
Regardless of whether charges are filed, Wednesday’s rescue serves as another reminder that abandoned industrial and military sites can conceal life-threatening hazards that aren’t immediately visible from the surface. What looks like an interesting piece of Cold War history can quickly become a confined-space emergency requiring specialized rescue teams.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
This remains a developing story. As of publication, law enforcement has not released the identities of the three people involved, and no criminal charges have been filed. Authorities have said they are considering possible charges, including third-degree criminal trespass, but no charging decision has been announced.
As with anyone under investigation, all individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Guessing Headlights will update this story as additional information is released by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and other officials.