Apartment catches fire in South-Central El Paso
The El Paso Fire Department says nobody was injured after an apartment caught fire in south-central El Paso early Friday moring.
The fire broke out just before 4 a.m. at the Rio Grande Apartments on the 200 block of Lisbon, which is just south of Fox Plaza. Neighbors tell ABC-7 that they saw flames coming from an upstairs apartment and called 911.
The El Paso Fire Department says it found heavy flames coming from the apartment when they arrived. Fire crews say nobody was in the apartment unit at the time and nearby residents had already evacuated. The fire was brought under control shortly after 4:15 a.m.
Firefighters say the blaze was contained to 40% of one apartment. Damage is estimated at $75,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
While there were no injuries to report, fire crews say a resident of the apartment complex drove over the hoses at the scene. The El Paso Fire Department stresses that this is a dangerous practice that can put the lives of firefighters and residents on the line. Driving over a hose can damage the line, cutting off the water supply. The practice is also illegal. Driving over a firefighter hose is at least a Class C Misdemeanor in the state of Texas.
