Fire rips through apartment
Complex, Head Start evacuated

Helen Silva comforts Gallup Head Start students Patrina Johnson, left, and Shelyn Thomas Friday afternoon during an evacuation of the school because the Terrace Apartments behind it caught fire. The children, who were not immediately picked up by their parents, were taken to the Larry Brian Mitchel Recreation Center. Everyone was evacuated safely and the school was not damaged. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

Independent Staff

A Gallup firefighter drags a hose out to the east portion of the Terrace Apartments as strong winds help the fuel on Friday afternoon. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

GALLUP — A fire at the Terrace Apartments just off east Maloney Avenue destroyed one apartment and severely damaged at least two others.

According to Gallup Police spokeswoman, investigator Erin Toadlena-Pablo, the fire began shortly before 3 p.m. in Apartment 108. It was under control by 4 p.m.

Fire officials were still trying to find out at that time what caused the fire.

No injuries were reported but Toadlena-Pablo said that several apartments next to 108 had to be evacuated as well as the Headstart building ust east of the Terrace Apartments. Students at the school were either taken to the Larry Mitchell Armory by officials for the city's juvenile detention center or, in some cases, were taken home by their parents who heard about the fire.

At least four fire units responded to the call as well as several police units, which spent the time controlling traffic on Maloney Avenue.

Police decided to close off the westbound lane of Maloney while they battled the fire and east-bound traffic was limited to one lane.