Fire at Sun God Lodge possibly arson
The Taos Volunteer Fire Dept. responded to a call about a fire at the Sun God Lodge, 919 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Friday night (Dec. 18). When firefighters arrived, it appeared that a fire had started in a room that was thought to have been broken into, according to Taos’ town manager Rick Bellis. Arson is the suspected cause.
Upon further inspection by town Fire Marshal Erik OiesenVreeke on Saturday (Dec. 19), many rooms were found unlocked, and there was little-to-no onsite security or supervision, Bellis said. It also appeared that the sprinkler system had been shut off due to late payments.
It became clear that people had been squatting in several of the rooms illegally, and posed “a public health and safety risk to the facility, surrounding properties and the community,” said Bellis. The fire marshal found space heaters and evidence of drug use on the property.
Bellis also said there appear to be many other problems with
the building that have existed for some time, which have “received no attention by the property owner and have only become worse and more dangerous over time.” He said that as the town’s code official, he anticipates declaring notice that the building is “uninhabitable and unusable by anyone. The building, since vacant, has become a public nuisance.”
The fire has also been reported to the state fire marshal, who will investigate the matter as a suspected arson incident. In a town council meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 22), Bellis suggested that the lodge be officially condemned.