Late Saturday night, Crew B of your Gallup Fire Department was dispatched to the downtown area for a structure fire. Metro Dispatch alerted us that they had several callers stating that the fire was large and was starting to catch nearby buildings on fire. While responding our units could see the fire from a distance. Upon arrival crews found a house with the roof fully involved with fire and due to the wind the fire was being pushed to the neighboring 2 story apartment building. Crews utilized deck guns from the fire engines to attempt to get a quick knockdown of the fire and utilized handlines to protect the apartment building. A general alarm was sounded requesting off duty personnel to respond to the fire.
Crews rescued 1 occupant from the home and evacuated approximately 30 residents out of the apartment building. Several occupants were treated on scene for smoke inhalation and a few were transported to the hospital for medical evaluation.Â
Gallup Fire personnel established a shelter at the Octavia Fellin Public Library and waited with the occupants until the American Red Cross arrived to provide temporary shelter for the occupants. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Gallup Fire Department Fire Investigators.
We would like to thank the Gallup Police Department for their assistance in diverting traffic away from the area so our Firefighters could safely work. We would also like to thank the staff from the Octavia Fellin Public Library who came in the middle of the night to open up the facility to the occupants who had been evacuated.
Original source found here.
