A fast-moving house fire ripped through two adjacent homes near Myrtle Avenue and Octavia Street in downtown El Paso on Wednesday evening, forcing evacuations but, officials said, leaving everyone physically unharmed. Firefighters moved in quickly, beat back the flames, then stuck around to hunt for hotspots and keep an eye out for any flare-ups. One of the buildings was reported vacant as crews locked down the scene.
Fire Department Response
The El Paso Fire Department labeled the blaze "serious" because it involved two neighboring structures and said crews were able to extinguish the fire while securing the surrounding area. According to KFOX14/CBS4, the Octavia Street building appeared abandoned, and occupants on the Myrtle Avenue side were evacuated. Firefighters stayed on site after the knockdown to monitor for flare-ups and check for lingering hotspots while investigators got to work.
Where And When Crews Were Dispatched
Local station KVIA reported that the initial call came in around 7:35 p.m. for a house on Octavia and that both 1026 Myrtle Avenue and 311 Octavia Street were damaged in the fire. Per KVIA ABC-7, investigators were on scene and there were no injuries reported. Fire crews were able to put both fires out and continued working into the evening to secure the neighborhood.
Vacant Properties A Recurring Hazard
Abandoned and vacant homes have been a recurring public-safety headache in parts of downtown El Paso, with local coverage noting similar problems on Myrtle Avenue. An incident last year also had crews dousing flames at an abandoned Myrtle property and working to keep the fire from spreading to nearby homes. For background, see the earlier coverage of the abandoned Myrtle property.
What Residents Should Do
Officials said the scene remains under investigation and confirmed there were no reported injuries. Contact information and resources from the fire department, including the Fire Marshal's Office, are available through the El Paso Fire Department. In any emergency, residents should call 911.
