Firefighters battle large fire in Central El Paso; nearby school evacuated due to smoke

Two firefighters received minor injuries while battling a fire in South-Central El Paso Monday.

A neighbor was transported to a hospital due to smoke inhalation.

The fire at 3001 Rivera (originally reported by fire officials as being at 3008 Pera) was first reported shortly after 11:30 a.m. when neighbors of a vacant grocery store building reported the fire.

Flames and heavy smoke could be seen exiting the rear of the vacant store.

Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control at about 2:29 p.m. and contained it to the structure.

The structure suffered heavy fire and smoke damage and is considered a total loss.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A total of 25 units and 59 personnel from the El Paso Fire Department responded to this incident.

Nearby Beall Elementary was evacuated to Bowie High School due to smoke in the area.

Project VIDA’s executive director Bill Schlessinger told ABC-7 the organization had just bought the property last Friday.