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NM house catches fire 3 times; fire dept. employee assaulted

Albuquerque firefighters suspect arson but are investigating

The Albuquerque Journal

ALUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque man whose home caught fire three times in one night was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly assaulted a Fire Department employee at the home.

Gary Mickey, 64, was apparently very agitated when he assaulted the employee, causing a minor injury.

Albuquerque firefighters suspect arson but are investigating.

Firefighters responded to Mickey’s house at 2025 La Veta NE around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release. They contained the fire, which was in a southwest bedroom, within 10 minutes.

They left, only to return again at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. This time, a fire had started in the kitchen area. It was extinguished within 10 minutes.

The third fire started shortly before 1 p.m. in a northeast bedroom and was extinguished within five minutes.

Nobody was injured in the fires, but a chair and kitchen cabinets were damaged.

Copyright 2011 Albuquerque Journal