The Kitchen and Bath Cabinet Co. building that burned out of control Thursday is not the only business around in the area. There are homes and several other businesses for blocks, but no fire hydrants for miles.
"It feels like we're way out of the city," said Rosendo Parra, the owner of American Trailer Service outside the city limits of El Paso.
He set up shop near the West Texas Airport eight years ago. He knew the area didn't have a water system.
"It was a good deal at the time. You take a risk in everything you do," said Parra.
This fire at the Kitchen and Bath Cabinet Co. just outside El Paso city limits burned out of control mainly because of the lack of water.
"The fact that we don't have a hydrant system in this area really hampered fire-fighting capabilities," said Assistant Chief Stephen Hoeller, with the County Emergency Service.
The business is in an area between two water districts: El Paso's and Horizon's MUDD district.
The closest fire hydrants were miles away toward El Paso city limits. Five water tankers had to drive back and forth to the hydrants to fill up. This was a process that was not only time-consuming but that depleted manpower. And unfortunately, in this area, it's what firefighters are faced with.
"When you buy the property, you're advised there's no water in this area. It's not a public utility services that's going to give you water. They should be aware of that risk and this is when that risk really brings it home," said Holler.
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