Report: Cause of huge fire by I-25 and Comanche in May 'undetermined'

Investigators could not identify the cause of a huge fire that left one person injured and multiple vehicles and structures destroyed in Northeast Albuquerque in May.

The findings were in a fire investigation report recently obtained by the Journal through an Inspection of Public Records Act request.

Bernalillo County Acting Fire Marshal Dustin Sadberry elaborated on the findings on Wednesday, saying the cause was undetermined due to "extensive damage to the property."

"That level of damage destroyed potential evidence that would normally allow investigators to identify a specific ignition source," he said. "As a result, there was not enough reliable physical evidence remaining to make a definitive determination."

Despite this, the investigation remains open, Sadberry said, "pending any other information that may come forward."

Around 5:30 p.m., May 13, Albuquerque Fire Rescue and Bernalillo County Fire Rescue got the call of a stack of pallets on fire at a property in the 800 block of Nikanda NE, near Edith and Interstate 25, AFR spokesperson Lt. Jason Fejer said in May. Gusty winds helped push the fire to quickly spread to nearby vehicles and structures.

Fejer said two mobile homes, two semi-trailers, 20 vehicles and numerous stacked pallets were destroyed. He did not identify the businesses that burned.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control after two hours, according to AFR. A property owner was injured, but was not transported to a hospital, Fejer said.

Along with the city and county fire departments, the New Mexico State Fire Marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives "examined the scene, evaluated burn patterns, reviewed fire behavior, and considered potential ignition sources," Sadberry said.

"They used the scientific method to develop and test possible explanations, but ultimately were unable to identify a specific ignition source or first material ignited due to the extent of the damage," he said. "This was a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional event and investigators followed nationally recognized fire investigation standards, but the severity of the fire destroyed the physical evidence needed to determine a definitive cause."

Sadberry said investigations that do not result in a definitive cause "can be frustrating."

"Having said that, fire investigators understand that not every fire can be conclusively determined," he said. "When a fire causes extensive damage, such as this case, critical evidence is destroyed, and part of our responsibility is recognizing when the available facts do not support a specific cause.

"Reaching an undetermined cause is a valid outcome when investigators have exhausted all reasonable hypotheses and investigative avenues. While it is always preferable to determine a cause, an undetermined finding simply means the evidence does not support a definitive conclusion, not that we gave up or the investigation was incomplete."

Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.