An abandoned Airstream trailer was destroyed in a suspected arson Tuesday afternoon in Hernandez, according to Española Fire Chief John Kitchen and Rio Arriba County Fire Marshal Jerome Sanchez.
Firefighters arrived at 1:45 p.m. to find the trailer completely engulfed in flames, Kitchen said.
There were no injuries, Kitchen said.
Even though the fire occurred immediately behind the Agua Sana fire station, Española firefighters arrived on scene before all but one of the volunteer firefighters.
“Nancy Garner of Agua Sana (Fire Department) called me on the phone at 1:30 and asked us to respond,” Kitchen said. “She said she had no help out here. Santa Clara’s watching our station and covering Española while we’re out here. But you can’t blame the volunteers. We’re on duty. They have day jobs.”
Chamita Volunteer Fire Department firefighters responded to provide support to the Española and Agua Sana departments, Chamita Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Herrera said.
The trailer was presumed abandoned, Kitchen said. The trailer’s electric meter had been red tagged, indicating that there was no current electrical service, Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative lineman Anthony Gustos said.
“It was a small, unoccupied and empty trailer,” Kitchen said. “There wasn’t a whole lot in it, judging from the debris.”
Kitchen called in a state fire marshal investigator and ordered firefighters not use “mist” settings on their fire hoses to avoid destroying evidence.
Asked why he suspects arson, Kitchen responded, “It just doesn’t feel right.”
Agua Sana Department 1st Lt. Chris Maestas said it was also strange that all the neighbors remained indoors while the fire was extinguished.
“It was kind of weird,” Maestas said. “Nobody came out. Normally they do.”
The trailer was on Private Drive 1527, across Highway 84/285 from Hernandez Elementary. A neighbor, who would not give her name, said the owners of the trailer were Juan and Maria Lovato, who also own a house next to the burned trailer.
The Lovatos were not on scene and could not be reached for comment.