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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 28 December 2020 28 December 2020

By Roger Lanse

The Silver City Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, at about 1:30 p.m., at Pinos Altos and San Vicente streets in the southwestern part of town.

According to SCFD Capt. Aaron Seavers, as soon as they left Station 1 and entered Hudson Street, they could see the plume of smoke which marked the location of the fire. The structure was a 'pretty old' adobe residence consisting of upstairs and downstairs apartments, some of which appeared to be undergoing remodeling. Roof trusses, roofing, clothing, and furniture in an upstairs apartment contributed to the blaze. That apartment suffered heavy smoke and fire damage while the downstairs apartments had only minor damage, Seavers said.

Off-shift firefighters, PNM, New Mexico Gas Company, and EMS were called in, Seavers stated. No injuries were reported, although responders were warned of a possible victim inside the structure, which proved not to be the case.

The brand-new fire engine received last week, fresh from Grand Rapids, Mich., was not rolled on this fire as it had not yet been outfitted with brackets, hose, and other accoutrements, Seavers said, but that, "Old engine 12 did good."

After about three hours, according to Seavers, the fire was extinguished. Six firefighters originally went to the fire, and a seventh came shortly after the first six.

The fire was kindled, according to Seavers, unintentionally, by an unattended camp stove. Value of the loss was estimated at between $50,000 and $75,000.