Raw video: Three-alarm fire in historic building in Downtown El Paso, Texas.
Video by Ruben R. Ramirez, El Paso Times.
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Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times:
A three-alarm fire raged for more than four hours on Thursday night, gutting one of the oldest buildings in Downtown El Paso.
Flames shot out from the top of the structure, as little by little parts of the building were consumed, while more than 110 firefighters poured streams of water from the ground and aerial ladders.
The building at 100 E. San Antonio had been a landmark in the heart of El Paso since the 1880s. It had once been the First National Bank and the law offices of famed gunfighter John Wesley Hardin.
City representative Steve Ortega was at the scene of the fire and told ABC-7 the burning building belonged to Gerald Rubin, CEO of Helen of Troy.
Firefighters said an official cause for the fire had not yet been determined, but Ortega said he believed the way the fire spread so quickly was due to neglect on the part of the building’s owner.
“This is what happens when we have property owners that don’t take care of their buildings,” said Ortega. “It’s infuriating as an El Pasoan seeing history go up in flames. This is one of the most historic buildings in downtown El Paso, it’s where John Wesley Hardin had his law office, it goes back to the late 1800’s.
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