ALBUQUERQUE FIRE CREWS RUSHED TO PUT OUT A FIRE IN A VACANT BUILDING AT 1ST AND MOUNTAIN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA MONDAY MORNING. SPOKESPERSON MELISSA ROMERO SAYS CREWS HAD THE FIRE OUT QUICKLY. SHE SAYS IT WAS STARTED BY A HOMELESS PERSON TRYING TO KEEP WARM.
ROMERO SAYS THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE HAD TO DISCOURAGE TRANSIENTS FROM STARTING FIRES IN BUILDINGS TO KEEP WARM. SHE SAYS IT BUILDS UP TOXIC GASES. SHE SAYS CHEMICALS IN MATERIALS LIKE PLASTICS ARE TOXIC AND … ALONG WITH THE SMOKE … CAN OVERCOME AN INDIVIDUAL.
THE HOMELESS MAN GOT OUT SAFELY AND NONE OF THE FIRE CREW WAS INJURED. THERE’S MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE.
