Friday, October 27, 2006

The Albuquerque Fire Department is investigating multiple fires around the Duke City, including one that burned down a payday loan business.

The AFD said it was about 4:15 a.m. Friday when a passer-by called 911 after seeing smoke and flames coming from the payday advance loan business at 4th and Candelaria in the northwest part of town.

Fire crews arrived on scene and were able to put the fire out, but not without it causing substantial damage to the office in the building.

“When we arrived, we saw smoke and flames visible coming out of one of the windows”, said AFD battalion commander Patrick Feist. “The building itself is a mobile home facility, so obviously those structures go up very quickly.”

Fire investigators said the fire started underneath the office of the facility and is still being investigated. It’s not assumed, at the moment, that anyone was intentionally trying to ruin this quick cash advance operation.

AFD crews also are looking into as many as nine car fires that started overnight around Albuquerque. All of the fires were in neighborhoods around the University of New Mexico. Police do not have anyone in custody in connection to these fires.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 27th, 2006 at 2:25 pm and is filed under New Mexico, Police blotter.