THE HISTORIC DESERT SANDS MOTEL SITE ON CENTRAL NEAR SAN MATEO WILL LIKELY HAVE TO BE RAZED. TWENTY-TWO ALBUQUERQUE FIRE UNITS STAYED ON SCENE ALL DAY AFTER BEING SENT THERE AROUND 1:45 TUESDAY MORNING AND FOUND SMOKE AND FLAMES THROUGHOUT THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS . SPOKESPERSON MELISSA ROMERO SAYS THE ROUTE 66 MOTEL APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.
TWO PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR SMOKE INHALATION. 57 OTHERS ARE DISPLACED. THE RED CROSS IS HELPING SOME OF THEM RELOCATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN SO FAR BUT SOME WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING AN EXPLOSION BEFORE THE FIRE.
