Police: Denver bar set ablaze to mask killing of 5

Police suspect that a fire was set at a Denver bar early Wednesday to mask the killing of five people.

Denver police detective John White confirmed the deaths, the Associated Press reports.

"It appears there was some trauma to the bodies. It also appears to be an arson," White tells reporters, according to KUSA TV.

Update at 8:16 a.m. ET: Ron Saunier, Major Crimes commander at the Denver Police Department, says police believe that the fire was set "to mask the homicide that occurred inside."

Saunier says firefighters discovered the bodies inside Fero's Bar and Grill and brought them outside as they were battling the blaze.

"I do not believe they perished in the fire," he says. "We believe a homicide occurred and there was more than likely an attempt to mask the homicide with arson."

Update at 8:02 a.m. ET: KUSA says officials are treating the fire as arson.

Update at 7:52 a.m. ET:The Denver Postreports that firefighters discovered the bodies of four women and one man inside Fero's Bar and Grill as they were battling the blaze around 2 a.m. local time.

White tells reporters there "was some trauma to the bodies," the Post reports.