UPDATE: BRUSH FIRE IN MONTANA VISTA / INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938 
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Direct: (915) 538-2119
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:30 PM
WHO: EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (LOWER VALLEY PATROL)
WHAT: UPDATE- FIRE IN MONTANA VISTA
WHEN: Tuesday, March 23, 2009 2:27 PM
WHERE: 3700 block of Judy Marie El Paso County, TX
WHY: INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
MONTANA VISTA- On Tuesday 03-24-09 at 2:27 PM Deputies were dispatched to the 3700 block of Judy Marie El Paso County,Texas in reference to a brush fire. Deputies arrived moments later to find several properties on fire. Deputies immediately went house to house evacuating the residents of all nearby homes as a precaution. The Montana Vista Volunteer Fire Department arrived & with the help of homeowners using their water hoses began battling the fires until finally extinguishing the blaze. Other nearby residents also assisted with buckets of water putting out small flames in the area.
The El Paso Electric & Gas Companies responded due to possible damage to several gas meters & electric poles. Workers from both companies advised there was no damage to the utility lines. There were no injuries reported although Life Ambulance was on scene as a precaution.
Further investigation revealed the fires point of origin was at 3765 Judy Marie where a 52 year-old Hispanic male subject was allegedly attempting to clean his yard by burning bushes but due to the high winds, the fire quickly spread to the neighbors yard. The subject called 9-11 emergency to ask for help and then ran over to help neighbors attempt to extinguish the fire on the other properties.
At this point, the fire is believed not to have been intentionally set for the sole purpose of damaging property.
A Burn-Ban “Red Flag” (Fire Risk) was in effect on this date in which the State could fine the Offender up to $ 10,000.00.
THE IDENTITY OF THE 52 YEAR-OLD MALE SUBJECT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE WILL NOT BE RELEASED AT THIS TIME.
AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES- CHARGES MAY BE PENDING.
NO OTHER INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
BELOW IS THE PROHIBITION OF OUTSIDE BURNING DOCUMENT SIGNED BY COUNTY JUDGE ANTHONY COBOS:
(PHOTOS BELOW COURTESY: EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF’s OFFICE)
END OF NEWS RELEASE
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.