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BELEN—It took firefighters a couple of hours to gain control of a fire that destroyed a house in Belen in the early morning hours Monday.
Belen Fire Chief Charles Cox said firefighters were dispatched to a house at 529 N. 12th St. at 12:17 a.m., Monday, Jan. 20. He said it was initially reported that there may of been an adult a two children inside.
“That turned out to be false,” Cox said of people inside the house. “The first Belen unit to arrive on scene reported heavy fire and smoke.”
Along with Belen firefighters, crews from Rio Communities and Valencia County fire departments assisted with the fire fight.
Cox said while there were people living in the house at the time, no one was home when firefighters arrived.
“It took us approximately about two hours to bring it under control,” the fire chief said. “I would say that it destruction is a total loss. There was heavy damage to the garage, living room, kitchen, roof and some of the minor smoke damage to one of the two bedrooms. The main part of the house sustained heavy fire damage.”
Cox said the fire is suspicious in nature.
“We do have a person of interest that the police and fire marshal are looking at,” Cox said. “The case is still under investigation.”
The fire chief reported there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
