ALBUQUERQUE – Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a 12-unit apartment complex that was under construction in Albuquerque.
A plume of smoke was visible from the edge of downtown when the fire broke out about 6 a.m. Sunday near Atrisco and Central.
No one was injured.
The three-story apartment complex was supposed to be The Atrisco Lofts, part of a project intended to help revitalize the neighborhood.
The owners told KOB-TV they had dealt with squatters before and suspect the fire may have been started by a homeless person.
The blaze spread to a neighboring kennel and growing business before firefighters brought it under control. No animals were hurt.
The owners say they had invested more than $1 million in the project. Construction was ahead of scheduled and expected to be completed before the end of the year.
