By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• First-arriving paramedics in northern New Mexico rescued a squatter trapped in a burning house, fire officials said.
• The incident occurred in the early morning after reports of smoke and flames at a residential structure.
• Paramedics entered the home and located the occupant in a hallway, removing them to safety.
• The person was evaluated by EMS and transported to a hospital; the fire’s origin remains under investigation.
NORTHERN NEW MEXICO — First-arriving paramedics in northern New Mexico rescued a person living as a squatter after locating them inside a burning house early Sunday, officials said.
Emergency dispatchers received reports of a residential structure fire shortly before dawn, prompting fire and EMS units to respond to the scene. Upon arrival, crews observed visible fire and smoke conditions and began coordinated rescue and fire suppression operations.
Paramedics, operating ahead of additional engine companies due to proximity, entered the home to search for occupants and located an adult in a hallway near heavy smoke. They removed the individual to safety and provided immediate medical evaluation.
The rescued person was transported to a local hospital for further assessment, with no additional fatalities reported. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after multiple hose line advances and ventilation efforts.
Fire officials said the cause and origin of the fire are being investigated by the appropriate fire marshal’s office, and that determining how the squatter entered the home is part of the ongoing review.