Arson arrest made after man dies trying to rescue pet from burning central El Paso home
UPDATE, Dec. 23: An El Paso man severely injured attempting to rescue his pet from a burning home has now died, authorities said Wednesday as they identified the victim as 41-year-old Julian Paredes Jr.
In addition, fire officials said they determined the blaze was deliberately set and have arrested the alleged arsonist.
35-year-old Adam Garcia is being held in the downtown jail on $250,000 bond on a first-degree felony count of arson of a habitation.
ORIGINAL REPORT, Dec. 22: EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Fire Department said a man was seriously injured after trying to save a pet from a burning home early Tuesday morning.
It happened at a home on the 900 block of Marlow Road in central El Paso just after 2:30 a.m. That's near Geronimo and Trowbridge Drives.
A fire official on scene told ABC-7 the 41-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries. A spokesperson for the fire department said the family reported having two dogs and one was unaccounted for.
The official said there were four people in the home at the time of the fire. No one else was hurt.
The department said it extinguished the fire after 3 a.m.
At this point, it's not clear what may have caused the fire.
