Downtown Las Vegas sees largest occupied building fire in 25 years
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Local firefighters battled what Las Vegas Fire & Rescue reports to be the largest fire involving occupied buildings in the city of Las Vegas in 25 years. At least ten buildings were either damaged or destroyed in the massive fire in Downtown Las Vegas early Sunday morning.
As the fire jumped from building to building, several vehicles were also destroyed. At least 100 people were forced to evacuate. As firefighters worked throughout the night to contain the spreading flames, only one minor injury was reported.
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Just before 1:00 a.m. Sunday a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue crew returning to their station from a previous call first noticed a large column of smoke on East Charleston Boulevard. The responding crew discovered a building on fire inside a condominium complex off Fremont Street, near Charleston and Bruce. The firefighters report the building was fully engulfed upon their arrival, prompting them to quickly evacuate the residents inside.
The fire also caused a large area of downtown Las Vegas to lose power after a power pole also caught fire.
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Firefighters report winds in the area caused the flames to travel to the multiple buildings in the area. Early morning winds in Las Vegas peaked at around 30 mph on Sunday. Approximately 40 fire units with 140 fire personnel from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Clark County responded to the scene.
By 6:00 a.m. the bulk of the fire was knocked down, though several flare-ups and hot spots remained. Firefighters are expected to be on site for most of the day.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and could take months, according to Tim Szymanski with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.
He estimated there is at least $15-$20 Million in damage incurred from this one fire.
The City of Las Vegas Office of Emergency Management and American Red Cross opened an evacuation center at near-by Hollingsworth STEAM Academy at 1776 E. Ogden Avenue for residents to seek refuge at.
The Red Cross will operate the site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through June 22. They'll assist those affected with everything from temporary lodging and personal health items to food and clothing.
“Our volunteers are meeting with displaced families to provide emergency needs and emotional support,” said Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter, in a statement. “And Red Cross caseworkers will continue to work with the families in the days and weeks ahead, offering recovery guidance and support to help them get back on their feet."
