Amarillo Firefighter Hurt in Intentional Blaze

I'll be honest, I thought Amarillo had gotten through the wild and crazy stories for the year. It always seems like the wild ones happen during the spring and summer months, so now that we've fully entered fall, I figured things were going to be pretty mellow.

Turns out I was very wrong in my thinking. Monday proved to me that maybe just maybe, we're in store for a busy fall of wild and crazy times in Amarillo.

Get our free mobile app

Firefighters Respond To Apartment Fire

On Monday, the call came in around 3:45 pm. The Amarillo Fire Department jumped into action and made their way to 909 S. Jackson St. When they got to the scene, they noticed some heavy smoke coming from a unit upstairs at the two-story complex.

They sprang into action and started to get the blaze under control. They were successful in doing so, but unfortunately, other units in the complex suffered some damage. The American Red Cross jumped in and were able to help relocate those families that were displaced because of the fire.

What Caused The Blaze

This is where things slide into the wild category. Once firefighters were able to put the fire out, they began work on their investigation of it and concluded the fire was set intentionally. They spoke with the tenant of that particular apartment, Rosalee Garza, who apparently confessed to starting the fire.

Police then charged Garza, 23, with arson of a habitation causing bodily injury. So where did the bodily injury part come from? Well, that would be because an off-duty firefighter dislocated his shoulder trying to put the blaze out.

Garza faces anywhere between 5-99 years in prison for the act, and could be slapped with a fine of up to $10,000.