Firefighters battle structure fires

Area fire departments were kept busy Monday fighting two major structure fires along with severe weather in southern Roosevelt County.

Portales Fire Department personnel were called to a residential structure fire shortly before midnight Monday in south Portales.

The fire was quickly contained by firefighters, but it appeared to have caused major damage to the residence near Rotary Park at the corner of Avenue I and 16th Street.

One woman at the scene said she was a tenant at the home and that everyone in the home got out safely. She said household members were awakened by a smoke alarm. When they left the house, it appeared to be burning in the attached garage, she said.

Tuesday morning, Portales Fire Department Battalion Chief Gary Nuckols said firefighters were called to the home just before midnight and, "They got it knocked out pretty quickly."

There were no injuries, he said.

Fire units were on scene until 3:30 a.m. Monday.

According to the report, the home is owned by Linda Click and Carlene Fried is the tenant. No damage estimates were given.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the extent of the damage is being determined, Nuckols said.

PFD was called to a barn fire around 12:30 p.m. Monday just west of Portales at 168 N.M. 267 (Floyd Highway).

According to the report, shorting electrical lines that were on the ground near the barn started dried weeds on fire.

When firefighters arrived, the structure, belonging to Elmer Jones, was fully involved. A call for mutual aid was placed to the Floyd Fire Department for a water tanker before the blaze was extinquished.

Firefighters remained on the scene until 3:30 p.m.