WEEKEND. WE DID SPEAK WITH THAT FAMILY AS THEY’RE LEFT PICKING UP THE PIECES. IT’S EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD WAS MY MOM’S WHOLE LIFE. A FAMILY LEFT HEARTBROKEN. THEIR HOME AND BUSINESS OF 11 YEARS BURNED DOWN TO THE GROUND. MEMORIES BURIED BENEATH ASHES, DEBRIS AND SHATTERED GLASS LEFT BEHIND. WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS A TRAGEDY. I DON’T THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH WORDS TO DESCRIBE EVERYTHING THAT WAS LOST, BECAUSE IT WASN’T JUST THE BUSINESS. IT’S NOT JUST THINGS. IT’S MEMORIES. IT’S LIVELIHOOD. IT’S STABILITY. SANDIA FIRE OFFICIALS RUSHING TO THE SCENE SATURDAY MORNING, A COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE BUILDING IN FLAMES. THE FIRE ERUPTING FROM ALL SIDES OF THE BUILDING. I CAUGHT UP IN THE MORNING AND I WENT TO WORK. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. MY BROTHER WAS HERE. WHO LIVES HERE AS WELL? AMELIA RECEIVING A PHONE CALL FROM HER BROTHER WHO WAS INSIDE. WE HAVE FAMILY THAT LIVE OVER HERE ON THE CORNER, SO WHEN THEY SEE THE SMOKE AND NOBODY KNEW IF WE WERE HERE OR NOT. AND, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR US BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT WE WERE IN THERE. THANKFULLY, EVERYONE ESCAPED JUST IN TIME. HOWEVER, THEIR DOG TOOK HIS LAST BREATH. WE LOST HIS DOG WAS IN THERE. AND THE FAMILY TELLS ME THIS IS THE SECOND HOME THAT THEY LOST TO A FIRE SINCE 2010. THAT WAS 16 YEARS AGO. I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING. DON’T KNOW HOW WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN. I KNOW WE’LL BE OKAY, AND I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE AROUND US WHO CARE FOR US. THEY’VE BEEN THERE FOR US. THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. FAITH EGBUONU KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. IT’S HARD TO WATCH. ACCORDIN
‘It’s a tragedy:’ New Mexico family loses home, business and dog in fire
“Nobody knew if we were here or not—so people were looking for us because they were concerned that we were inside,” Emilia Montoya told KOAT
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, a fire erupted at a commercial structure in Estancia, New Mexico. According to the City of Moriarty Fire Department, multiple agencies assisted the Estancia Fire Department per request to get the fire under control. According to officials, there were no reported injuries or deaths. However, the Montoya family told KOAT they lost their joint home-business and dog to the fire. MORE: Major fire destroys commercial building in Estancia “What happened here is a tragedy. There aren’t enough words to describe everything that was lost because it wasn’t just the business. It’s not just things—it’s memories, it’s livelihood, it’s stability,” Augustine Montoya told KOAT. “One of the biggest things for me as the son, as the grandson, for two people who have been here with me through my whole life, is making sure that I’m at least somewhat consistent and stable for them through this really hard time,” Montoya (Augustine) said. Emilia Montoya told KOAT she was at work when she received the tragic call from her brother who was inside but managed to escape with his wife. Additionally, Montoya stated this is the second home they’ve lost to a fire since 2010. They’ve owned the joint home-business since 2015, however, they’ve been in business for 40 years. “My mother was in Albuquerque. This is her main office (business). When I got the call, I gave her a call. We have family that lives over here in the corner. So, when they saw the smoke, nobody knew if we were here or not. So, people were looking for us because they were concerned that we were in there. We lost—his dog was in there,” Montoya (Emilia) said. As of Monday, April 20, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.Stay updated on the latest from the 2026 Gubernatorial race on the KOAT app. Download here
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, a fire erupted at a commercial structure in Estancia, New Mexico. According to the City of Moriarty Fire Department, multiple agencies assisted the Estancia Fire Department per request to get the fire under control. According to officials, there were no reported injuries or deaths. However, the Montoya family told KOAT they lost their joint home-business and dog to the fire.
MORE: Major fire destroys commercial building in Estancia
“What happened here is a tragedy. There aren’t enough words to describe everything that was lost because it wasn’t just the business. It’s not just things—it’s memories, it’s livelihood, it’s stability,” Augustine Montoya told KOAT.
“One of the biggest things for me as the son, as the grandson, for two people who have been here with me through my whole life, is making sure that I’m at least somewhat consistent and stable for them through this really hard time,” Montoya (Augustine) said.
Emilia Montoya told KOAT she was at work when she received the tragic call from her brother who was inside but managed to escape with his wife. Additionally, Montoya stated this is the second home they’ve lost to a fire since 2010. They’ve owned the joint home-business since 2015, however, they’ve been in business for 40 years.
“My mother was in Albuquerque. This is her main office (business). When I got the call, I gave her a call. We have family that lives over here in the corner. So, when they saw the smoke, nobody knew if we were here or not. So, people were looking for us because they were concerned that we were in there. We lost—his dog was in there,” Montoya (Emilia) said.
As of Monday, April 20, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Stay updated on the latest from the 2026 Gubernatorial race on the KOAT app. Download
