UPDATE: Massive fire affects local businesses

UPDATE: 13 Action News spoke to business owners in the area where a massive fire broke out on Wednesday morning. The fire resulted in nearby roads being closed for hours, which prevented people from accessing businesses in the area.

 

At this time, it is still not known how the fire started. The fire is still under investigation.

 

ORIGINAL STORY

 

Crews were battling a massive building fire near Desert Inn and Pecos Roads on Wednesday morning. It was reported around 3 a.m.

First arriving crews reported heavy flames coming from an abandoned building that is owned by NV Energy.  

"It's because of the way the fire is situated," says Clark County Deputy Chief Roy Session. "It's underneath what's called a pancaked roof, so we can't get to it, or get crews inside." 

 

A "pancaked roof" is when the floors and roof of a building all collapse at the same time, right on top of each other, trapping the fire underneath it.  

 

The building hasn’t been occupied for several years and is known to be a place of refuge for squatters.  

 

In a statement, a representative with NV Energy tells 13 Action News he has "no information on the squatters" possibly living inside their building.  

 

Beckley Elementary School is right across the street from the building fire.  

 

According to CCSD officials, the fire did not affect normal operations at the school.  

 

The school did not hold classes today because of parent-teacher conferences. 

UPDATE: Beckley Elementary operating as normal despite DI/Pecos fire. No class, but parents, students and teachers on campus for conferences pic.twitter.com/4pSt38cLSo

— Marissa Kynaston (@marissaktnv) December 14, 2016

There are no injuries reported. Officials say they plan to send in K-9 units to start a recovery search, in case anybody was inside when the fire started. 

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

 

13 Action News will post updates as they become available.