Muleshoe fire destroys home

MULESHOE — A fire on Avenue D in Muleshoe on Monday destroyed a home and briefly impacted activities at Dillman Elementary School.

Muleshoe Superintendent R.L. Richards said smoke from the house fire inundated the school. That resulted in the 400-plus students being moved to the gymnasium where there was no smoke.

Richards said electricity to the school was out for about 40 minutes; he did not know if that was a direct result of the smoke in the building. He said the gym was also without power, but it has skylights so it wasn’t dark and the children in close confines helped keep them warm until the power could be restored. Temperatures Monday morning were in the teens.

He said parents were contacted immediately to advise them their children could be picked up if they wished.

“There was no danger at the school; however the fire appeared very consuming,” Richards said.

Muleshoe/Bailey County Fire Marshal Benny Parker said the fire department responded to the blaze at 1821 W Ave. D around 11:30 a.m. Monday morning.

Parker said when he arrived on scene there was so much smoke that he couldn’t get in the house, which was a total loss.

He said there were no injuries and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

On Monday afternoon Parker said the Bailey County Ministerial Alliance had provided housing and food vouchers and the Red Cross would be responding shortly.

Richards said the school and community are already working to organize something to assist the family.