Rancho De Corrales destroyed in fire

CORRALES, N.M. (KRQE) - A fast moving and tricky fire kept firefighters busy in Corrales Sunday.

The fire broke out around 3 o’clock Sunday morning at the historic Rancho De Corrales Event Center.

More than 15 hours later, the fire was still flaring up.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.

The blaze has given firefighters a tough time, crews spent the afternoon and evening putting out hot spots.

Corrales Fire Chief Anthony Garcia said they got the call around 3 a.m. and when they arrived flames were already shooting through the roof.

The fire station is just across the street from the event center on Corrales Road north of Alameda, but the chief says the problem is with the age of the building.

It was built in 1801 then renovated a number of times and that has created what the chief calls void spaces in the roof causing the fire to move and spread.

The 11,000 square foot building is a very popular wedding and meeting location.

Sunday afternoon, there was not much of it left.

"We don't want to risk any firefighters going in and we've had portions of the building already collapse in the middle so right now it’s a defensive attack making sure that you know everyone is safe,” Chief Anthony Martinez said.

The fire burned so intense, firefighters had a hard time finding enough water.

The fire department used so much water from its water tank that the flow was not strong enough.

Eventually they started pulling water from a nearby irrigation ditch.

They have been using so much water on this fire that it has pooled up to the point that crews are now reusing that water.

One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion but he is okay.

Engagement photos for David and Aleigh taken by K Mari Photography 2012