Fire Destroys New Mexico Apartment

A fire tore through an apartment complex in Carnuel on Thursday afternoon, leaving six people with their homes destroyed.

“Basically, it’s a total loss,” said Larry Gallegos, spokesman for the Bernalillo County Fire Department. “All people are accounted for, but the entire structure has been compromised.”

Five adults were in the apartments when the fire broke out just before 4 p.m., Gallegos said, and everyone was able to get out safely.

After the fire was put out around 7:45 p.m., firefighters discovered three dogs trapped inside the building. The dogs were protected from the flames but withstood a great deal of heat to survive the ordeal, Gallegos said.

As an old motor lodge converted into an apartment complex, the Mountain Lodge is a historic site along Old Route 66 east of the Carnuel exit from Interstate 40. The complex has six apartment units but only four were occupied.

Several fire departments responded to the blaze, including firefighters from Edge-wood, La Madera, Albuquerque, Corrales and Tijeras, Gallegos said.

Firefighters remained on the scene late Thursday to stamp out hot spots, he added.

“It’s about 28 degrees out here,” Gallegos said. “It’s too cold for it to spread much.”

The cause of the fire has not been determined and will be investigated.