By: ABQ RAW Staff
Posted On: 11/22/2023 @ 1:05 PM
© 2023 ABQRAW All Rights Reserved – Please Request Permission Before Disseminating on Other Social Media Platforms.
Photo Credit: @ABQFireRescue – Sais Food Mart on November 22, 2023
Albuquerque, NM –
At about 1:06 AM on November 22, 2023, Albuquerque Fire Rescue received a dispatch to the Sais Food Mart, situated at 535 Louisiana SE, in response to potential reports of a structure fire. Upon arrival, Engine 11 observed a small commercial building with an active fire. AFR crews initiated offensive fire attack operations, later transitioning to a defensive strategy utilizing large diameter hand lines and aerial apparatus. The fire was successfully controlled within 60 minutes of their arrival. The structure sustained extensive damage, resulting in a complete loss of the building.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among civilians or firefighters. As of now, the cause remains undetermined, and no further information is available.
At 1:30 PM, Lieutenant Fejer from AFR’s Public Information Office provided us with an update. He conveyed that there were no new developments, and regrettably, the source of the fire remains unknown, echoing the situation from the previous fire on November 1st. Lt. Fejer said that “Fire Investigators were not called out by on scene Battalion Chiefs due to lack of eyewitnesses or video evidence to open a case.”
(story continues below)
Photo Credit: @ABQFireRescue – Sais Food Mart on November 22, 2023
It should be noted that this is the second fire at the Sais Food Mart in three weeks. On November 1, 2023, at approximately 2:15 AM, Albuquerque Fire Rescue received a dispatch to Sais Food Mart, located at 535 Louisiana SE, for reports of an outdoor fire, it was later upgraded to a structure fire response. Upon arrival, Engine 5 observed a small commercial building with flames visible from the front. AFR efficiently controlled the fire within 26 minutes, containing damage to the building’s front, roof, and inventory.
As of now, the cause for the November 1st fire remains undetermined, and no additional information is available. No civilians or firefighters were injured on November 1.
On November 14, 2023, we contacted AFR to inquire about the Sais Food Mart fire on November 1 at 3:00 AM, the Valero gas station fire on November 2 at 4:45 AM, and the Murphy Express gas station fire on November 14 at 4:25 AM. We were informed that AFR’s Fire Investigators were not dispatched to the fires at Sais Food Mart on November 1 or the Valero fire on November 2, so AFR could not provide further updates or information on those incidents. AFR’s Lt. Fejer informed us that on November 1, AFR’s Fire Investigators did respond to investigate the fire at Green Tree Inn and Suites located at 2120 Menaul NE. That fire was unrelated, and there was reportedly a person of interest in that incident. Regarding the Murphy Express fire on November 14, AFR’s Fire Investigators reviewed footage from that incident and did not capture any individuals lighting the fire.
Photo Credit: @ABQFireRescue – Sais Food Mart on November 22, 2023