By KRWG News
Chaparral – Three bodies have been sent to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner following a deadly mobile-home blaze in Chaparral.
The fire was reported at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday, with the first emergency responders arriving on scene at 11:41 p.m. Volunteers from the Chaparral and Anthony Volunteer Fire Districts responded, along with Do a Ana County Sheriff s Department deputies and investigators from the Do a Ana County Fire and Emergency Services Department.
All three victims were in the back bedroom of the single-wide mobile home at 2560 Capital Drive. Bars on the windows and intense fire and smoke in the hallway prevented their rescue or escape. A man living in the opposite end of the dwelling was able to get out uninjured.
Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, nor have they released a damage estimate. The three victims are believed to have been a 20-year-old woman, a 17-year-old boy and a 14-month-old girl. Identifications are being withheld until the Office of the Medical Examiner can positively identify the bodies and relatives can be notified.
The Office of the Medical Examiner also will determine whether the three died of smoke inhalation or burns.
In a separate fire near Las Cruces, a home at 1375 Missionary Ridge was responded to by volunteers from the Mesquite, La Mesa, South Valley and New Mexico State University Volunteer Fire Districts Wednesday evening.
No injuries were reported in that fire, which was called in at 7:57 p.m. Investigators believe the cause was electrical, and they found evidence of multiple space heaters and extension cords in use throughout the residence.