THEY'RE LUCKY TO GET OUT ALIVE. THAT'S WHAT MELISSA ROMERO WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS ABOUT THE TWO ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ESCAPED A FIRE AT THEIR NORTHEAST HEIGHTS HOME EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT CREWS RESPONDED TO THE CALL AROUND 5:20 AM. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE ON TEXAS NORTHEAST NEAR MENAUL AND PENNSYLVANIA, THEY FOUND THE HOUSE FULLY INVOLVED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES.
ROMERO SAYS THE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL BY 6:30 AM. SHE SAYS IT WAS A MASSIVE FIRE AND A DOWNED POWER LINE NEAR THE BACK OF THE HOUSE CREATED ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.
ONE OF THE TWO ELDERLY RESIDENTS GOT OUT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. THE OTHER HAD TO BE RESCUED BY FIREFIGHTERS. THEY BOTH HAD SMOKE INHALATION BUT DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THEY WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE. NO FIRE PERSONNEL WAS INJURED.
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. DAMAGE ESTIMATES HAVE YET TO BE MADE.
