WESTMINSTER, Colo. – An explosion rocked a Westminster neighborhood about 11:35 a.m. Thursday, prompting evacuation calls over a large area.

At least one structure was blown to pieces, with others heavily damaged. Debris was scattered over a large area. No one was killed, but at least two people suffered injuries.

The source of the blast was thought to be 9306 Ingalls St. The two owners of the destroyed home were out at the time and are safe, the Westminster Fire Department said.

Emergency evacuation calls went out to residents in the area between 92nd Avenue and 96th Avenue, and Pierce Street and Westminster Boulevard, the Westminster Fire Department reported. Evacuation orders have been lifted, but two streets remain closed for investigation.

“I just heard a loud explosion that shook my entire apartment complex,” said viewer Brittany Marlier, who lives in the area. “I spoke with neighbors and they felt the impact as well.”

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — The sheriff in Adams County responded to criticism and defended his decision to put a cap on the number of inmates at the Adams County jail.

Sheriff Doug Darr held a news conference where he says police departments in the cities in his county are sending too many people to jail for minor offenses for things like not having a leash on their dog.

He says jails are getting too crowded

Darr says he has to put a cap on the inmate population for the safety of his staff and people already in the facility.

He took the opportunity to remind everyone the inmates that are turned away from the jail are nonviolent offenders.

They get booked into the Denver Jail, although cities in Adams County have to pay extra to use the Denver Jail.

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — The chiefs of police for five cities in Adams County have called for a news conference to talk about their claim that the Adams County Sheriff is refusing to take prisoners.

“The chiefs believe the current policies and actions of the sheriff are creating public safety issues in the cities of Adams County,” said Thornton police spokesman Todd Barnes.

Barnes said the sheriff created a cap on the number of inmates he would detain in the jail and “has initiated policies which limit the authority of municipal judges to sentence people convicted in municipal courts to serve sentences in the Adams County Detention Center.”

The police chiefs gathered Tuesday afternoon for a news conference to talk about their concerns.