By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Twenty-seven local firefighters battled a blaze at the corner of Fox Drive and Margaret Lane at about noon Friday.
Firefighters from the City of Del Rio Fire Department, Laughlin AFB and Val Verde County Fire Department teamed up to fight the blaze that destroyed the vacant home, according to a City of Del Rio press release.
The 2.200 square foot home had 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, according to www.Zillow.com.
City of Del Rio firefighters initially responded to the call that came in about 11:30 a.m. By noon, firefighters were fighting the fire that had flames as high as the trees around he home.
The nearly noon fire caused three firefighters suffering from heat exhaustion to get checked by on-scene emergency medical technicians, the City of Del Rio’s press release said. Alex Menchaca, founder of Del Rio’s Weather Alerts Facebook page, said the temperature was 92 degrees with a Heat Index near 98 degrees at noon. People could feel the heat from the blaze 50 yards away.
The City of Del Rio Fire Department battled the blaze as the home was engulfed by the fire, eventually having 7 units on site.
According to 2nd Lt. Sarah Villareal, a Laughlin spokesperson, Laughlin sent 3 firetrucks and 7 firefighters on-scene to help keep the fire under control while Val Verde County Fire Department sent a unit.
Jack Casbeer, who lives across the street from the destroyed home, said it had been vacant for awhile.
“Every now and then, I’d come home and there would be someone working over there, but most of the time it was empty,” Casbeer said standing in his front yard, watching firefighters pour water on the fire.
“The cause of this fire is unknown and is under investigation by the Del Rio Fire Department. On behalf of the City of Del Rio, thank you to Laughlin Fire Department and Val Verde County Fire Department for their quick response and assistance to contain this fire,” the City of Del Rio wrote in their release.
The writer can be reached at Joelalangton@gmail.com .
