El Sinaloense Owner Cites Six Fires on Property
Security footage and city officials describe a pattern of overnight fires outside the Albuquerque restaurant, while shelter operations report increased transport volumes.
By Emmanuel Faure ·
Leonardo Hernandez, owner of the Albuquerque restaurant El Sinaloense, reported six fires on his property this year. The incidents have resulted in visible smoke damage and burn marks on the exterior of the building. Hernandez stated that the frequency of the fires has increased since he installed surveillance cameras earlier in the year.
Hernandez pointed to video from early October showing two men near a fire outside the restaurant in the early morning hours. He said one individual appeared to fall asleep before starting the blaze. When the fire began, the man attempted to extinguish it, causing debris to fly and leaving scorch marks on nearby objects. Hernandez noted that previous fires occurred in different locations on the property, including one roughly three weeks prior to the October incident.
The restaurant owner said he installed wide-angle cameras at the start of the year to monitor the area. He stated that the footage revealed a pattern of activity that was not previously visible. Hernandez said the proximity of recent fires has heightened his concern about the condition of the building and the safety of the premises.
Brittany Karenzis, the homeless innovations officer for the City of Albuquerque, said city officials are implementing measures to address the situation. She stated that the city is activating its winter shelter plan to ensure warm beds are available for individuals who need them. The plan includes coordinated efforts between multiple city agencies.
Walter Adams, deputy director of field operations for Albuquerque Community Safety, confirmed that the agency began offering overnight shelter transportation in November. Adams explained that staff are proactively engaging with individuals on the street rather than waiting for phone calls. He said this approach is part of a broader strategy to connect people with available shelter resources.
Adams reported that Albuquerque Community Safety transported 6,300 people from November of last year through March 31 of this year. This figure represents an increase of 4,000 people compared to the previous year. In the current month, the agency has offered a warm bed to 200 people. City officials acknowledged that persuading individuals to accept shelter beds instead of staying on the street remains a persistent challenge.
Hernandez said he has requested assistance from the city to address the fires. He believes the municipal response is limited in scope. The city continues to operate the winter shelter plan while monitoring the number of people utilizing overnight transport services.
