LCFD investigating deadly fire at Casa Pueblo Apartment complex

The Las Cruces Fire Department is investigating an apartment fire that killed a 67-year-old man in Las Cruces Sunday night.

LCFD says it happened on the 800 block of Idaho Avenue at the Casa Pueblo Apartment complex shortly after 7:30 p.m.

Firefighters reported flames coming from a second-floor apartment with one person still inside.

According to LCFD, firefighters attacked the blaze and made their way to the second-floor bedroom where they located the victim who was unconscious.

Firefighters and American Medical Response personnel attempted to revive the victim but were unsuccessful. The victim was transported to Memorial Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

A viewer sent ABC-7 video of Sunday’s fire which shows bright flames outside the second floor of the building. There are also multiple fire trucks on scene.

Monday afternoon, caution tape blocked off the apartment door. The windows were smashed and the inside looked unsalvageable and covered in ashes.

Joseph Cacho tells ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom he happened to be walking by the complex when he spotted the flames.

“We’re both looking at this apartment building and then all of a sudden flames start rolling right over the top of the roof,” Cacho said. “And we’re just like, oh my God.”

Cacho says he witnessed firefighters pulling a body out of the apartment.

“They pull out a charred body. He was stiff, black and charred,” Cacho said. “It was horrific. So horrible.”

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire. The name of the victim is being withheld pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.