Clint, New Horizon Firefighters respond to large fire in east El Paso County
| 
One firefighter was taken to the hospital and a horse was killed in a large wood-pallet fire Saturday in east El Paso County, Clint fire officials said. The fire began about 11 a.m. in a small storage shed area behind a home, said Clint Fire Chief Oliberto Lopez. Wood pallets then fueled the fire, he said.
About 45 firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to the fire in the 15100 block of Pumice, said Christina Acosta, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said. The fire was brought under control just before 2 p.m., she said.
The Clint Fire Department was first on the scene, with Horizon City Fire Department assisting, Lopez said. The lack of fire hydrants in that area required assistance from the San Elizario, Fabens, Socorro and Montana Vista fire departments to help shuttle water, Lopez said.
“There were plenty of trucks, but we still needed water,” he said.
A firefighter who was feeling weak was taken to Sierra East Medical Center for observation, Lopez said.
No other injuries were reported. A horse who earlier was released by the owner to escape the fire, ran back into the fire out of confusion and died, Lopez said.
Lopez said the fire was under investigation, and was likely caused by an electrical problem. No estimate of damages was available.
About This Post
