LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Two people were injured during a fire in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Multiple people called 9-1-1 shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday to report an explosion and house fire at 1201 S. Fourth Street near Charleston Boulevard.
When the first unit arrived on scene, heavy flames and smoke were showing from a two-story wood frame house. Just as firefighters were exiting their engine and began pulling hose to the front of the house, another significant explosion occurred with enough force that it pushed them back against their unit. At that time the fire grew in intensity.
At the same time they noticed an adult male lying in the parking lot of the apartment complex next door. The first arriving rescue unit examined the man and found he had significant burns. He was given immediate treatment on scene and rushed to UMC Trauma in critical condition.
The house was surrounded by several palm trees with significant dead palm fronds which were starting to burn. The house was between two apartment buildings and it was feared at least one of the buildings would begin to burn. As a precaution Las Vegas Metropolitan Police started to evacuate the two apartment buildings.
As the fire was starting to extend to the apartment building next door, firefighters used a ladder truck to douse the flames. They had the situation under control in less than 20 minutes. Neither of the two apartment building were damaged by the fire.
One of the occupants of the apartment building was checked by paramedics on scene for minor smoke inhalation as they were being evacuated. That person was taken to the hospital for observation as a precaution.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The house, which was built in 1931, was gutted by the fire. A damage estimate was not available due to the investigation.
