Vacant Las Vegas House Fire Under Investigation

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Las Vegas Fire Investigators are looking into what started a fire in a vacant house on the city's northwest side Monday, October 10, 2011.  The fire spread to an occupied house next door, and broke through a window to a bedroom in which a baby girl was lying in bed.  Her mother quickly got her out of the room before she could be injured by the glass or flames.  There were no reported injuries during the incident.            

Fire dispatchers received many calls just after 3:00 p.m. that a house was on fire at 3725 Smoking Gun Ct. (Gowen/Durango).  When firefighters arrived a few minutes later, heavy flames were blowing out a bedroom window of a one story wood frame/stucco vacant house. 

The flames were spreading to a house next door.  The fire was able to break a bedroom window of the neighboring home and started to burn the wood at the bottom edge of the roof.  Firefighter's first action was to put the fire out on the neighboring home.  Another fire engine arrived on scene and worked on putting the fire out in the vacant house.  Firefighters had the fire under control in less than six minutes in both houses.            

The fire gutted a bedroom in the vacant house that has no utilities connected to it.  The house was unsecured and it was evident that vandals have been staying in the house because of graffiti present and damage to the home.  Damage from the fire was estimated at $50,000.            

The occupied house at 3721 Smoking Gun Ct. sustained $7500 damage.  Two adults and two small children live in the house.  It appeared they would be able to stay in the home tonight; most of the damage was to the outside of the home.  The little girl in the room where the window broke was not injured.            

Neighbors told fire investigators that three young males were seen running from the house just before smoke started coming out of the house.  Investigators were able to get a good description on two of the males.  The incident remains under investigation.



Author:Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Press Release