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KRWG Alert: Volunteer Firefighters Arrested In Arson

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Four Dona Ana County volunteer fire fighters have been arrested on charges of arson after an overnight fire near a Mesquite dairy torched more than 400 bales of hay.

Junior Perez, Carlos Martinez, Luis Gutierrez, and Joshua Jaramillo were arrested early Tuesday morning. Investigators say the four were responsible for starting the fire that burned a haystack near Stern Dr. and Highway 228 in Mesquite, just south of Las Cruces.

Fire crews responded to the fire at 11:30 p.m. Monday night. According to Dona Ana County Fire Captain Kellen Tarkington, the fire is controlled and should be completely extinguished by Tuesday night.

The hay belonged to Mountain View Dairy, which estimated to have lost about $120,000 in hay.

All four men in custody are charged with arson, a second-degree felony, and conspiracy to commit arson. They will be booked into the Do a Ana County Detention Center.