Homeowner: Neighbor ignored burn ban, started fire that destroyed pickup in adjacent property

A Doña Ana County woman tells ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom her neighbor ignored the County’s burn ban, resulting in a fire that damaged three properties and destroyed her husband’s pickup.

The fire happened at about 11:15 a.m. five miles north of Las Cruces in a neighborhood south of the village of Doña Ana. Doña Ana Volunteer fire fighters contained the fire on the 5000 block of Doña Ana Road within 30 minutes, officials said.

Doreen Mendiola told ABC-7 her neighbor was burning his grass on a “no burn” day. Doreen Mendiola said the fire spread to her property. A pile of wood, trees and the pickup caught fire, Doreen Mendiola said.

Joe Mendiola told ABC-7 he bought the truck from his father. It is a 1972 Ford 250. The Doña County Fire Marshall told ABC-7 the man who allegedly caused the fire was issued a $500 citation.

Doreen Mendiola said the fire damaged three properties.