By Caylor Ballinger
The El Paso Times
EL PASO, Texas — An arsonist caused about $350,000 in damage to several Northeast El Paso homes on Saturday morning, fire officials said.
No one was injured.
Four of the homes were occupied and two were under construction, said Fire Department spokesman John Concha.
Fifteen firetrucks arrived at 14427 Misty Point Court at 5:45 a.m.
“We don’t know which house the fire started in, but it was determined it started in one under construction,” Concha said. “The houses under construction were one-third complete and are now total losses.”
He said it is more common for arson fires to start in unoccupied homes. “This is the fifth home in that area to have an arson fire this year,” Concha said. “That’s in a neighborhood of about 200 to 300 homes.”
Rose Rayon, who lives next to the burned homes, said the neighborhood was a little shaken up by the fire.
“The fire was huge, very quickly,” Rayon said. “We all sort of knew it had to have been caused by someone.”
She said that she woke up around 5:15 a.m. to let her dog out and that there was no fire. By 5:45, the fire was engulfing one of the homes under construction.
Rayon said most of the neighbors were outside trying to help and see what was happening. Residents of the occupied homes were evacuated.
“It’s just scary to be awakened like that,” Rayon said. “The kids were in front of their house in their pajamas; everyone was a little hysterical.”
Officials continue to investigate the fires.
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