Semi-rig fire and false alarms occupy firefighters

Andrea Egger
Staff Writer

GALLUP — City firefighters had a busy day Wednesday, with some false alarm calls and a vehicle fire, said the fire marshal.

Andy Carabajal of the Gallup Fire Department said firefighters were called at 7:52 a.m. to the 400 block of East Green Avenue after someone reported seeing smoke at a home there. Firefighters were unable to locate any signs of a fire.

Firefighters in six department vehicles responded to the call, "trying to find a ghost," Carabajal said.

At 8:15 p.m., another false alarm led firefighters to 400 E. Highway 66 after someone reported seeing smoke coming from a building there. Officials determined the smoke was from wax burning in a kiln, Carabajal said.

Four fire department units were at the scene of this false alarm. At 10:13 p.m., fire officials went to a scene of a semi-rig on fire at 3380 W. Highway 66. When firefighters arrived, the driver had already put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, the fire marshal said.

Firefighters determined the fire was caused by an electrical short, he said. Fire officials in five department vehicles arrived to investigate the fire.

A $2,000 loss was estimated in the fire. The truck driver was treated and released at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital, Carabajal said.