EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Alamogordo Fire Department battled strong winds to contain a structure fire at a vacant hotel last week that was later ruled to be arson.
A person was also identified as a suspect after an investigation by Alamogordo Fire, Alamogordo Code Enforcement and Alamogordo Police and was charged with arson in this fire, according to that city’s Fire Department.
Fire crews also searched the building along White Sands Boulevard for a woman who was reported to be inside the hotel at the time of the fire, but she was found safe away from the hotel.
At about 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, the Alamogordo Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire at 1401 South White Sands Blvd.
Upon arrival, fire crews saw heavy smoke coming from the north wing of the hotel.
Despite strong winds, fire crews initiated “aggressive interior operations” to bring the fire under control quickly, Alamogordo Fire said.
Upon arrival, Alamogordo Police Department units informed responding firefighters that two homeless male subjects were seen leaving the area of the hotel. These individuals stated there was a female inside the building at the time the fire broke out.
In response, fire crews conducted an extensive search of the hotel while simultaneously conducting fire suppression efforts.
During these efforts, the female subject was located away from the scene and the building was cleared with no victims found inside.
Otero County Fire Services and Holloman Fire Department assisted in putting out the fire and searching the building.
No injuries were reported to civilians or fire personnel, and all fire damage was contained to the vacant hotel building.
Alamogordo Fire did not identify the person who is facing arson charges in this fire.