Fire leaves three homeless, kills two dogs

A house fire in Tucumcari on Friday night rendered three adults homeless and killed two dogs.

Firefighters were called to a home at 416 S. Fourth St. shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, according to dispatcher logs.

Flames were seen pouring through the home's roof.

The fire was brought under control in about an hour.

No one was home at the time the fire was reported, though two dogs inside died in the blaze.

No other injuries were reported.

The home was owned by Virginia Martinez. Her brother Victor and her adult son Leslie also lived there.

The next morning, the three sorted through the remnants of the scorched home, looking for any belongings they could salvage. Sunlight streamed through gaping holes in the roof.

Martinez said the dogs that died were an 18-year-old named Bubba and a 4-year-old named Dora.

Martinez said she didn't have any insurance on the home. She said she stayed at a friend's house Friday night.

Martinez said she was away from the home at a store for 30 to 40 minutes when the fire apparently broke out.

Tucumcari Fire Chief Casey Mackey said the fire started because a wood-burning stove's screen was left open, igniting a nearby pile of wood.

Mackey said the burning wood pile then ignited nearby propane bottles.

In addition to Tucumcari firefighters, Quay District 1 helped to extinguish the blaze, Mackey said.

The American Red Cross was contacted to give aid to the family.