Fire in Española early Monday morning destroys home

Apr. 22—Española fire officials said no one was injured in a fire that burned a single residence early Monday morning on the south side of the city.

Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at a home next to E-Z Way Laundry on South Riverside Drive around 2 a.m., Assistant Fire Chief John Wickersham said, and they were still on the scene late Monday morning.

A man who owns the house initially was believed to have been inside, but at about 6 a.m. a family member confirmed to officials the owner was in a hospital during the blaze, Wickersham said. The house burned completely, causing a total loss, but no other structures caught fire, he said.

The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the incident.

Wickersham noted the property has been the subject of multiple emergency calls recently regarding campfires.

The city of Española does not currently have a burn ban in place, but it requires residents to obtain a permit and contact officials before starting a fire, Wickersham said.