Berino woman dies in overnight fire, despite rescue efforts

The Dona Ana County Fire Marshall's office said that a woman died in her Calendaria Street home in Berino after her home caught fire.

Neighbors told KFOX14 that the victim was a 79-year-old woman.

"We were all crying," neighbor Gloria Machuca said. "We were hoping she wasn't in there."

"I saw the flames and they said she was in there," neighbor Fernie Hernandez said.

Fire Marshall's said they got the call that the Berino home was on fire just before 1:30 a.m.

Firefighters managed to get the fire under control around 2:30 a.m. but by then the blaze already gutted the double wide mobile home, destroying the roof and breaking in all the windows.

"My daughter dialed 911 and the cops showed up first then the fire department," Machuca said.

Machuca said her family tried to go inside the burning home to help the elderly lady escape, but she said the flames were too big at that point.

"We opened the fence and my brother kicked the door open, but when he kicked the door the flames kicked out so there was nothing we could do, so that's when we decided to walk away," Machuca said. "She was a nice lady, very religious."

The Fire Marshall's office said that fire was caused by a pipe chimney that was improperly installed.

The body has been sent to the Medical Examiner's office in Albuquerque where officials are awaiting a positive identification.