El Paso Lower Valley fatal fire started by cigarette setting couch ablaze

A cigarette setting a couch ablaze was the cause of a fatal fire over the weekend in El Paso's Lower Valley, authorities said.

A person died and another person suffered "moderate burns" in a fire April 20, at a mobile home in the 7200 block of Alameda Avenue in the Lower Valley, El Paso Fire Department officials said.

The name of the person who died has not been disclosed as fire officials wait for official confirmation by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office, officials said.

An investigation by the El Paso Fire Marshal's Office revealed the fire started when a cigarette ignited a couch, officials said. The blaze obstructed the exit route for the people inside the home.

Firefighters found one person with moderate burns. The person was taken to a house for treatment. Firefighters then found the second person inside the home. The second person was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fire crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring homes.

More: EPFD: El Paso fire that killed 2 sparked by smoking, oxygen machine in Lower Valley home

The cause of the fire was ruled as accidental.

No working smoke alarms were found within the home. Fire officials stressed "the critical importance of fire safety and use of early detection devices."

"The El Paso Fire Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents through proactive education, emergency response, and ongoing community partnerships," officials said.

The El Paso Fire Department provides free smoke alarms and will install them in community member's homes, officials said. To submit a request for a smoke alarm, residents may call 311 or visit elpasofire.org.

Second deadly fire started by cigarette

This was the second deadly fire in less than a week started by smoking in El Paso's Lower Valley.

El Paso firefighters responded to another mobile house fire April 18, in the 7600 block of Barton Street, about a mile from the Alameda mobile home fire.

A man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s died in the fire. The fire started by smoking in combination with an oxygen machine inside a Lower Valley home, officials said. El Paso Fire Marshal's Office investigators determined the fire was accidental.

The names of the victims have not been released.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Cigarette setting couch ablaze cause of deadly El Paso fire