'Do not
extinguish' order concerns fire officials
Joe Kolb
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Although considered well-intentioned, a recent
order issued by City Manager Eric Honeyfield continues to concern
area fire officials about potential liability and the complexities
of fighting fires in Gallup's numerous abandoned buildings.
On Dec. 30, Honeyfield issued a letter to Jim Rashid, owner
of the Thunderbird Motel, 1811 W. Hwy. 66, with copies to City
Attorney George Kozeliski and Fire Chief Louie Chavez, stating
that due to repetitive fires and "unwarranted hazards to
emergency personnel" that a "do not extinguish order"
was now in effect for the abandoned property condemned by the
city last summer.
Honeyfield's order dictates that subsequent fires at the Thunderbird
Motel are not to be extinguished but surrounding structures
are to be fully protected.
"What if someone is sleeping in there?" asked Hilda
Bowman, director of Fire and Emergency Medical Services for
McKinley County.
The Thunderbird has been a location of frequent small fires,
mostly caused by transients and youths partying in the building.
"Our mission is life and safety," said Robert Garcia,
deputy fire chief of the Gallup Fire Department, who said the
building has been frequented by transients, kids and Mexican
nationals passing through town.
"You have a mess if it burns down where the owners will
have to clean it up anyway," Garcia said of the building
ordered for demolition.
Honeyfield said the city is under pressure to get rid of dilapidated
properties and it has addressed the Thunderbird and El Hopi
Lodge near Gallup Municipal Airport.
Rashid promised to demolish the Thunderbird, but hasn't taken
action. A recent investigation by Gallup fire marshals found
the building had been cleaned up to the point of coming within
compliance of the city fire code.
In a previous interview, Kozeliski said although there is always
a risk of liability with abandoned buildings, the city is concerned
about the welfare of its firefighters when they enter these
properties.
Despite the frustration anticipated by fire officials to watch
a building burn, James Mason, New Mexico State Fire Investigator,
said such an order is not out of the ordinary.
"It is a fairly common practice in the U.S., especially
back East," Mason said, adding that firefighters approach
these scenes with defensive pre-planning in order to contain
the spread to adjacent structures.
"In the case of a fire at the Thunderbird, they (firefighters)
will do a complete search of the building to make sure no one
is inside, then ensure the safety of surrounding buildings,"
Honeyfield said, adding that he discussed the plan with Chavez.
