Gallup firefighters put out baby changing table fire in municipal court restroom

Gallup Fire Department Crew B extinguished a fire that had been burning in the baby changing table inside the accessible stall of the men's restroom at the Municipal Court building at approximately 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2026, after crews responded to reports of smoke.

Firefighters from Crew B arrived at the Municipal Court building following reports of smoke and traced the source to the men's restroom, where they found an active fire in the baby changing table located in the accessible stall. The department put the blaze out on scene; firefighters identified the item involved as the baby changing table and not a fixture of the restroom itself.

The incident occurred in a public facility frequently used by people attending hearings and court business at the Municipal Court building. A fire in an accessible stall with a baby changing table raises particular safety and access concerns for families and people with disabilities who must use court facilities, given the stall’s intended purpose for caregivers and the proximity to court operations.

Responsibility for follow-up inspections and any policy changes rests with the City of Gallup and Municipal Court administrators. City facilities and court staff will need to review the placement, maintenance, and fire-safety measures for baby changing tables and other family accommodations inside municipal buildings in the wake of the March 2, 2026 incident.

Gallup Fire Department records list the response as Crew B; city officials and Municipal Court administrators have the authority to order facility checks and update emergency procedures for courthouse restrooms and accessible stalls. The March 2 event underscores the need for those same officials to examine whether routine inspections, signage and fire-safety equipment in family-accessible areas meet current standards and to notify the public of any operational impacts to Municipal Court services.