Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - A few cell phone calls and one giant smoke signal drew most of the Sun-News newsroom Sunday to the newspaper's building on West Las Cruces Avenue, where billowing flames poured out onto the street and erupted into the air, visible even above the building's green metal sign from where crowds had been pushed back to the west side of Alameda Boulevard.
"The most important thing is that no one was hurt," said publisher Frank Leto. "We'll assess whatever physical damage has been done, but our commitment to Las Cruces, seven days a week, stays the same. We will not miss a publication date."
As crews battled the fire, which started in a 6,000-square-foot building full of papers and other records, Sun-News staffers were already making plans to upload content online - even on-scene, from the parking lot of the city visitor's bureau at the corner of Water Street and Las Cruces Avenue.
Sun-News editor-in-chief Jim Lawitz said business would continue unabated.
"Regardless of the outcome of our facility, our commitment remains strong to deliver news and information to our readership regardless of platform - print, online, or mobile," Lawitz said.
"Even though this is a tragedy, it's business as usual at the Sun-News," Leto added. "Our commitment is the same. We're not going to miss a beat in covering the community."
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462
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