A fire that consumed part of a lumber warehouse late last month caused about $750,000 worth of damage and its cause was officially labeled as ‘undetermined,’ according to a Las Cruces Fire Department report.
Despite the label, the records also indicated that the fire that torched L&P Building Supply on Sept. 28 likely started when stored foam panels caught fire. Specifically, the report noted that polyurethane foam panels used for waterproofing along with thermal and acoustic insulation in new buildings were likely the first to catch fire. The fire also consumed some stored lumber.
It’s unclear from the report what may have ignited the panels, although the report pointed to several electrical devices nearby that may have been the case.
According to a news release from LCFD, the blaze required some 20 firefighters and was put out in about 20 minutes. The report also noted that firefighters from Fire Station 3, located a few miles away, were some of the first people to see the fire as it bloomed.
