The Las Cruces Fire Department extinguished to two commercial structure fires within thirty minutes of each other Thursday morning.
Firefighters were first dispatched just after 10:00 a.m. to Alaska Structures located in the 300-block of Rea Boulevard. Calls to 911 reported a fire inside the large manufacturing facility.
The first arriving fire unit reported heavy smoke coming from the building and an active fire in an oven used for molding plastics. Firefighters were able to attack the fire and quickly extinguish it within minutes. The fire crews contained the blaze to the oven and minimized damage to the building’s interior. Investigators also credit the facilities sprinkler system for keeping the fire in check prior to the arrival of the fire department.
The second incident occurred just after 10:30 a.m. in the 840-block of N. Valley Drive in west Las Cruces. The initial call to 911 reported a forklift on fire. The first arriving fire company discovered that the building that housed the forklift had also caught on fire. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within thirty minutes.
There were no firefighter or civilian injuries reported at either fire. These incidents required the use of the Las Cruces Fire department’s seven engines, two ladder trucks, squad and two battalion vehicles.
Both fires are under investigation and damage estimates have not been determined.
Fire Departments from NMSU and Dona Ana County were requested to provide emergency response coverage in the city during these structure fires.
Information from Las Cruces Fire Department