Space heater may have caught hut on fire

ALAMOSA– Alamosa firefighters responded to a fire about 7:45 a.m. Friday where a hut was destroyed at the St. Benedict's homeless camp on the city's southside. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

While mopping up the scene, a Chihuahua-mix puppy reportedly emerged from beneath some debris. The dog was scooped up by firefighters Regis Gilmartin and Zach Staggs and was given oxygen and dried off after being soaked in the firefighting effort.

AFD Captain Alonzo Estevan said the puppy was turned over to Alamosa EMS who eventually took it to the Dumb Friends League. He said other than being cold, the dog appeared to be healthy. He added that the residents of the hut said the dog was a stray and was not theirs.

 “I don’t know how that dog survived,” Estevan said.

He added that the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but Alamosa Police officers suggested it may have been caused by a faulty heater or combustibles being too close to a heater. Estevan said APD reported that there was a smaller fire at the same hut earlier in the week.

Estevan said some debris near the hut, including tires, caught fire as well. No injuries were reported.

AFD Captain Zach Cerny said two Alamosa fire trucks responded with nine firefighters and were on scene for just over an hour. One truck and three firefighters with the Division of Fire Protection and Control assisted.