An unidentified elderly female died in a house fire Jan. 14 in an incident that took place on Gallup’s west end. The fire saw three engines from the Gallup Fire Department and two from the McKinley County Volunteer Fire Department respond, officials said.
“Upon arrival, the residence was fully engulfed,” Gallup Deputy Fire Chief Jesus Morales said. “The incident is still under investigation.”
Morales said at about 9:30 am that a call came in about a structure fire at 161 Crest View Rd., which is just over the city line. He said the 24-by-32 mobile home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. Morales said family members of the people living at the home were able to rescue an elderly male from the blaze. But by the time someone could get back into the home a second time, the fire had spread and become more dangerous, Morales said.
The body of the deceased female was found in a bedroom of the residence, he said. The incident was turned over to the Navajo Nation Police Department due to the fact that it happened on Navajo land. Morales said the New Mexico Fire Marshal is expected to do an investigation and issue a report on the matter.
The Crest View Road fire isn’t the sole one of its kind to recent take place on Gallup’s west end as of late. A motel room fire at the Budget Inn, 3150 W. Historic Highway 66, caused $20,000 worth of damage on Jan. 10. The cause of the motel fire has been deemed as arson, officials said.
Steve Soloman, a Phoenix-based public information officer with the American Red Cross, said in a news release that his agency would immediately dispatch someone to help the male survivor get shelter and with personal needs.
By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent
