Woman Dies In Mobile-Home Fire South Of Las Cruces

An unidentified woman died in a mobile-home fire early Sunday in Berino, N.M., officials said.

When firefighters from Chamberino, La Mesa, La Union and Anthony, N.M., as well as the West Valley Fire Department in El Paso arrived on the scene, they reported seeing flames shooting from the double-wide mobile home’s roof, which was collapsing.

Crews were dispatched to the 200 block of Candelaria about 1:20 a.m. The fire was under control an hour later, but the mobile home completely destroyed.

Capt. Kellen Tarkington, of the Doa Ana County Fire and Emergency Services, said a woman inside the home was unable to escape and died in the fire. Her body was taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque for positive identification so her family can be notified.

Tarkington said investigators with the Doa Ana County Fire Marshal’s office determined the fire was caused by a chimney pipe that was installed improperly.