Firefighter hospitalized, horse killed in massive pallet fire

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 1 p.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 from several fire departments and sheriff’s deputies responded to the fire in the 15100 block of Pumice, said Christina Acosta, a sheriff’s spokeswoman. The fire was brought under control just before 2 p.m., she said.

A firefighter who felt weak was taken to Sierra Providence East Medical Center for observation, Lopez said. A horse that was released by the owner to escape the fire, ran back into its stable and died, Lopez said. No estimate of damages was available.
By Candi M. Lopez, The El Paso Times