Fire burns at pecan storage facility for 24 hours

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Doña Ana County Fire Rescue (DAFR) crews have been actively battling a large commercial structure fire that started at Stahmann Farms at its pecan storage facility and has been burning for about 24 hours now, the County said in a news release.

The fire at the storage facility, which contains 380,000 pounds of pecans, started at about 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7. The fire has been contained to the original building, the County said. No injuries have been reported.

Stahmann Farms is located about 20 miles south of Las Cruces along New Mexico Highway 28.

There is no immediate danger to surrounding facilities or property, the County said in its news release.

However, the fire has continued to produce significant smoke, and the building’s concrete roof collapsed during the incident. The intense heat has prevented demolition contractors from safely opening the walls to allow the burning material to be spread out, the County added.

“Our crews are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of everyone on-site and to prevent the fire from starting up again,” Fire Chief Shannon Cherry said. “We will remain on scene and continue applying water to the fire until the area is secure.”

Nearby residents, especially those sensitive to smoke, are encouraged to avoid the area and stay indoors as much as possible.

DAFR will remain on scene until any fire danger is removed, the County said.

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