Fire crews respond to Central El Paso house fire

An elderly woman and a young boy escaped with their lives from a house fire in central El Paso Sunday morning.

Fire crews responded to the home at 3208 Louisville around 9 a.m. Firefighters said heavy flames could be seen coming from one of the bedrooms.

Fire Department officials said a 77-year-old woman and a 6-year old boy were the only ones home at the time. Both were transported to University Medical Center as a safety precaution, but they did not have any injuries. Family members said they believed the boy accidentally set his mattress on fire.

"By the time the realized there was a fire, the house was pretty engulfed," said family member Gabriela Ontiveros. "We saw the smoke from our house down the street and came running when we realized where it was coming from. The only thing running through my head was 'call the other members of the family,'"

Ontiveros said The Red Cross put the family in a hotel for a few days, but that the inside of the house was destroyed by smoke damage. Fire investigators estimated the fire and smoked caused $90,000 in damage.

"We just ask that you keep our family in your prayers," Ontiveros said. "We lost a lot of stuff in the home."

Red Cross El Paso tweeted "A busy weekend for Disaster Services volunteers. Three house fires in the El Paso Area."  Saturday evening a fire broke out in east El Paso after an unattended candle burned a second story home at 1329 Rose Bud Lane. The family inside was able to escape after their smoke alarms went off, but fire investigators estimate $40,000 in damages to the home.

As a result, the El Paso Fire Department would like to remind the public to practice these fire prevention tips regarding candles:

• Avoid using lighted candles.
• If you do use candles, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders, and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets
• Set a good example by using matches, lighters, and fire carefully.
• Children should never be allowed to play with matches, lighters, or candles
• Never leave the house with candles burning
• Extinguish candles after use
• Establish a fire-safe home, especially a safe sleeping environment
• Never leave a candle burning unattended.