Man In Need Of Psychiatric Help May Have Started Apartment Fire

A man in need of psychiatric help may have started an apartment fire in Northeast El Paso.

An El Paso Police officer at the scene of the fire told an ABC-7 crew member that officers were originally there to serve the man a warrant to take him to a psychiatric facility.

The man, who has not been identified, barricaded himself inside an apartment when he saw the officers at about six Saturday evening and used a stove he had disconnected to block the door, said the officer.

Upon learning of the man’s actions, El Paso Fire Department crews arrived to disconnect gas service to the apartment units. The fire then broke out at the apartments on Lackland and Fred Wilson.

Fire officials said the man was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported and fire investigators are still assessing the damage.