Fire Damages Picacho Avenue Motel

A fire that damaged a Picacho Avenue motel on Saturday resulted in relatively minor injuries to four occupants and the arrest of a man who was charged with arson.

About 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, Las Cruces firefighters were dispatched to the report of a commercial structure fire at the Western Inn, 2155 W. Picacho Ave. Crews, 26 Las Cruces firefighters in all, arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from multiple apartments.

Firefighters attacked the blaze and had it under control within 20 minutes. Four occupants of the hotel were treated at the scene by American Medical Response and Las Cruces firefighters, but they refused transportation.

The fire forced the temporary displacement of occupants from four units. Motel management was able to relocate the displaced occupants to other units on the property.

Following the preliminary investigation, a 34-year-old man was arrested and charged with arson. Zachary Dennis, a resident of the property, was charged with a felony count of arson. He also had two misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear in municipal court. Dennis is initially being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.