Family of 7 homeless after house fire in Clint

A family of seven is homeless after a fire destroyed their home in Clint early Wednesday morning.

It began just before midnight on Sleepy lane. According to a sheriff spokeswoman, the family was alerted to the fire by smoke detectors in the home. They reported seeing smoke pour out of a bathroom vent, and a small fire near the home’s heater. They tried to put out the fire themselves with a garden hose, but because of the temperatures dipping well below zero, the hose was completely frozen.

When smoke became to much to handle, all seven family members escaped unharmed. Fire crews from Clint, San Elizario, Socorro and Fabens arrived to find flames shooting out of the roof. It took them 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. That time could have been less, but a new fire hydrant right in front of the home was not yet working. Sheriff officials tell us because the hydrants are new, the lines do not yet have water. Fire fighters had to use hydrants from another block. The red cross was called out to assist the family with major damage to the roof and interior of the home, we’re told the home is a total loss.