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Journal North: Home | Sports | Opinion | Obits | Entertainment
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Buffalo Thunder Fire Minor
By Vic Vela
Journal Staff Writer
POJOAQUE PUEBLO — A fire at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino created a big stir here Tuesday but caused little damage.
Several firefighters and law enforcement personnel from around the area responded to the soon-to-open resort and casino about 10:30 a.m. after at least one call placed to emergency dispatchers reported that an explosion had occurred and that construction workers were trapped inside.
But that wasn't the case. On-scene fire personnel and Pojoaque Pueblo officials said an air conditioning unit located near the resort's future convention center caught fire, resulting in only minor cosmetic damage to the outside of the building.
No one was injured, and no inside smoke damage was reported.
The fire was first noticed by construction workers who used fire extinguishers to help put out the blaze, which was contained by responding fire personnel within minutes after being reported, according to radio dispatch communication.
"They're all going to get a free night's stay here," pueblo Gov. George Rivera said of the workers who helped put out the fire.
The building was evacuated after an inside alarm system went off, site construction manager Bruce Snow said.
"One minute we were working and the next they were kicking the crew out of the building," construction worker Mark Goodin said. "It wasn't a big deal, though."
Santa Fe County Fire Department spokesman John Wheeler said an investigation into the official cause of the fire will be handled by the state Fire Marshal's Office.
The 61,000-square-foot resort and casino will feature 1,200 slot machines, poker rooms and a Hilton hotels-operated golf resort and spa, as well as 390 guest rooms, according to the Buffalo Thunder Web site.
Rivera said the fire will cause no delays in the resort's anticipated Aug. 12 grand opening.