Winds keep firefighters busy at two scenes Sunday

Two damaging fires broke out within a half hour of each other in El Paso County Sunday afternoon. Both were tougher than usual to contain.

A business and house fire kept El Paso firefighters busy when strong winds swept through the borderland.

“I freaked out, totally. I just stayed outside and called 911,” Hector Perez said.

In east El Paso County, investigators spent much of the day trying to figure out what caused blazing flames to burst out of Texas Pallets on the 15000 block of Radlite Drive. The owner and one of his employees got out safely, according to an El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

In Canutillo, five people living in a home and rear apartment were displaced.

“The fire damage is the front living room and extended into the kitchen. Everything else is salvageable but it has heavy smoke damage,” Bill Adler from West Valley Fire Department said.

Fortunately, no one was injured at either location.

The two to three-story raging fire on the southeast side of Texas Pallets caused crews from Socorro, San Elizario, Clint, Montana Vista and Horizon City to respond.

“I like super heroes and I actually feel like one for calling the police,” Perez said.

Half of Texas Pallets was lost in the fire. Wind gusts were higher than 50 miles per hour in most of the Borderland.