Fire damages Algodones home

ALGODONES — An Algodones home caught fire last week, leaving the house extensively damaged and displacing the homeowner, firefighters said.

Sandoval County Fire Department Deputy Chief Eric Masterson said the department was dispatched to a home in the 1400 block of N.M. 313 at around 9:15 p.m. Dec. 18 in response to reports of heavy smoke emanating from the roof.

Firefighters were on scene within five minutes, though their fighting efforts were delayed by a search for a fire hydrant.

“It’s unfortunate that we have certain areas of the county that are like that, where we can’t just tie into a hydrant,” Masterson said.

Preliminary investigation determined that the fire likely started near the home’s chimney and spread outward, causing the roof and ceiling to collapse. The homeowner was out of town at the time of the blaze, but a housesitter was inside, and had been using the fireplace.

Masterson said fire personnel were able to salvage some of the homeowner’s belongings. They remained on scene for approximately four and a half hours.

A Red Cross employee said in an email that the organization provided services to the family that was displaced.

“The Red Cross is an amazing asset. We’re happy to partner with them to get our citizens some assistance,” Masterson said.