July 03--An aggressive attack on a structure fire Wednesday morning may have prevented the total loss of an Alamogordo motel, according to Alamogordo Fire Chief Mikel Ward.
Ward said about 18 firefighters from all five fire companies responded to the structure fire at the Budget 7 Motel, located in the 2400 block of North White Sands Boulevard, around 4 a.m. Wednesday.
He said that, initially, five rooms were believed to be involved in the fire.
Ward said crews were able to hold the fire to attic space above about 10 rooms.
He said the fire started in the attic space above an unoccupied room and the cause is still under investigation.
The state fire marshal was on scene Wednesday morning and Ward said the Alamogordo Fire Department was also investigating the cause of the blaze.
Ward said no one was injured and about 20 people safely made it out of their rooms.
He said the motel was heavily damaged but an aggressive attack by firefighters prevented the building from being a total loss.
Motel owner Desai Ketan said people staying in rooms at the motel were taken to other motels in the city.
Ketan said a customer initially called 911 to report the fire and management also reported it.
He said the motel is currently closed for business.
"It's all closed," he said. "There are no lights or anything."
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