By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton Fire and Emergency services along with the Colfax County Rapid Response were called to a house fire around 4:40 p.m. Sunday afternoon in the 300 block of Lopez Street in east Raton.
Shortly after the call came in smoke could be seen rising high into the Raton sky and was visible from most of Raton. When fire fighters arrived on scene they found the house at 323 Lopez Street fully involved with fire. The lone occupant of the house, Pat Gonzales, was able to escape the blaze without injury. Gonzales told officers that he was using a torch to heat water and left the items alone for a minute when the fire started in the south part of the residence. It quickly spread to the north part of the residence.
Fire Fighters were on site until about 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening mopping up the scene and making sure the fire was cold.
