Teen Rescued From Abandoned Missile Silo In Colorado

A young woman rescued from an abandoned missile silo in Colorado this week could potentially face trespassing charges, authorities said.

South Metro Fire Rescue and the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded at around 6 a.m. July 8 to a report of an 18-year-old woman trapped in a confined space that turned out to be an abandoned missile silo on private property near the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds.

At around 3 a.m., the teen had climbed down a ladder into the silo along with two juveniles ages 16 and 17. She became stuck approximately 50–60 feet down, and the younger teens climbed out to call for help.

Once rescuers arrived, the woman was safely extracted within about 30 minutes. She was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Ginger Delgado, Public Information Officer for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters at the scene that this was the third rescue from an abandoned missile silo in recent years, and stressed that entering the silos is “extremely dangerous.”

“We just want to let parents and kids know, first of all, please stay off of private property. That’s dangerous enough as it is. Secondly, do not enter these abandoned missile silos,” Delgado told reporters.

“There are dangerous gases inside that could harm you. There’s carbon dioxide. You could be poisoned, not to mention injured from falling,” she said. “Please, please stay out of these missile silos.”

Delgado also said that because the missile silo was on private property, it’s possible the teens could end up with trespassing charges, though none had been formally filed.