Crews with Doña Ana County Fire and Emergency Services fought back flames and smoke most of Thursday after a resident in the community of Organ reported seeing heavy smoke and fire coming from a neighboring single-wide mobile home.
The call for help was made shortly after 9 a.m. As of Thursday afternoon, the fire was contained to a subfloor in the home, located in the 9100 block of Berry Patch Lane.
Doña Ana County Deputy Fire Marshal Eric Crespin said when rescue crews first arrived the neighbor suspected the single occupant of the home might still be inside. It was later determined that the homeowner was at a doctor’s appointment at the time the fire broke out.
Firefighters from Doña Ana, Fairacres, Las Alturas, and NASA responded. Crews from the Las Cruces Fire Department were also dispatched to assist.
According to Crespin, Doña Ana County Animal Control officers were called out after about a dozen dogs were discovered around the property and inside a recreational vehicle that was parked near the home. Crespin said crews suspect there were also dogs that had burrowed under the home and could not be reached. It was not known at the time of the fire how many animals were on the property. At least two perished in the fire.
The fire is currently under investigation. The Red Cross is assisting the homeowner with temporary shelter.