A fire at the Western Inn motel on Picacho Avenue Saturday morning has left four people with minor injuries, and one man in custody charged with arson, as reported by the City of Las Cruces. The Las Cruces Fire Department scrambled 26 of its firefighters to the scene after receiving calls about the blaze at around 10 a.m., where they encountered heavy flames and smoke billowing from multiple units.
The fire, now contained after an aggressive 20-minute response by first responders, resulted in the temporary displacement of tenants from four of the apartments, though motel management succeeded in relocating them to other available rooms, Four of the Western Inn's occupants were treated right there on the scene by the American Medical Response team and fire personnel, but they refused further medical treatment or transport to a hospital, as obtained by the City of Las Cruces.
Las Cruces authorities have since detained a 34-year-old resident of the motel, Zachary Dennis, who was booked on a felony count of arson related to the incident, Dennis was also wanted on two outstanding misdemeanor warrants for failing to appear in municipal court, reports indicate that he is currently being held without bond at Dona Ana County Detention Center.
