Document: Hatch fire ignited by hookah coals discarded on lawn; man charged with arson

A Statement of Facts obtained by ABC-7 states the fire that torched two properties in Hatch, New Mexico was allegedly caused by a man who discarded coals from a hookah smoking device on the front lawn of his grandfather’s home.

Investigators charged Christian Franzoy, 25, with five counts of Negligent Arson. The fire consumed several structures at 101 W. Highway 187 and 259 Hartman in Hatch, New Mexico on March 3, 2019.

According to the statement of facts, the property at 101 W. Highway 187 belonged to John Franzoy, identified in court documents as Christian Franzoy’s grandfather. The document states the fire erupted on John Franzoy’s property, then spread to a neighboring property, torching a mobile home and two recreational vehicles.

Investigators, the court document states, concluded the fire at John Franzoy’s home was not the result of “electrical, mechanical, natural and accidental causes.” The document reveals investigators believe “the fire was incendiary.”

A woman identified in the document as Maddy Franzoy told investigators she observed smoke eminating from her cousin John Franzoy’s home, ran towards the home and entered the fire-engulfed structure. The woman said she picked up John Franzoy and carried him out of the home. Maddy Franzoy told investigators she observed a naked Christian Franzoy running out of the house with a towel in his hands, the document states.

When investigators interviewed Christian Franzoy, the man allegedly denied any involvement in the fire, then allegedly admitted to throwing coals from his hookah smoking device on his grandfather’s front lawn, the court document states.

Christian Franzoy allegedly told investigators the fire was an accident and he never intended to burn down his grandfather’s home or the neighboring property.

Firefighters from at least six southern New Mexico departments – including New Mexico State, Rincon and Doña Ana County – battled the fire for at least 12 hours. The day after the fire, some neighbors told ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom there is a lot of dry brush in the area and they were fortunate the wind-fueled fire spared their homes. “It could have taken out the rest of the surrounding houses,” a neighbor said.

Online jail records do not yet show any arrest information for Christian Franzoy.