3-Alarm Fire Destroys House In Northwest Valley – July 11
Nearly 100 Fire Personnel Responded To The Incident
A fast moving fire destroyed a home in the rural northwest area of the Valley just after Noon Thursday, July 11. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental. Two elderly adults and two dogs are displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
Fire dispatchers received numerous 9-1-1 calls at 12:24 p.m. that a house was on fire at 5315 N. Fort Apache Rd. When firefighters arrived on scene, heavy flames and smoke were showing from a one story house. Shortly after firefighters arrived, flames broke through the roof. The two occupants told firefighters that everyone was out of the house as well as their two dogs.
Three factors affected the fire. First the fire was burning intensely when firefighters first arrived. Second, there was a stiff steady 15-25 m.p.h. wind from the south which was fanning the flames. Some of those flames spread to the yard and trees of a neighboring house, firefighters were concerned that they would have a second house on fire. Third, fire hydrants are spaced far apart in the rural area of the county. Some of the hose lays to bring sufficient water to the fire was over 1000 feet.
It was also the hottest day of the year. A second alarm was dispatched to bring extra personnel and equipment to the scene.
During the incident more equipment and personnel was requested to where it was a third alarm. Over 30 fire units with nearly 100 personnel were on scene at one time during the incident.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to any homes. But the house where the fire started could not be saved. Damage was estimated at $300,000.
An investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted by fire investigators from the Clark County Fire Department. The occupants told investigators that the fire started in a faulty stove in the kitchen. It had been giving the couple troubles for the last few weeks. It was to be replaced today, a new stove sat in the hallway ready to be installed. The fire then spread to the attic where it was enhanced by the wind and took over the house.
The couple there said they lived in the house for over twenty years and were doing some renovations on the house. The next item on the list was the installation of the new stove today.
So much fire hose was used to bring water to the scene from distant fire hydrants that recruit firefighters from the Las Vegas Fire Academy were brought to the scene to help get the hose back on fire apparatus. The recruits are nearing graduation and today provided them some actual hands on training at an incident.
Although it was a very extensive operation, there were no reported injuries during the incident.
Firefighters from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Clark County responded to the incident. There was a large response from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for traffic and crowd control. A representative from the Las Vegas Valley Water District also responded to the scene to monitor the situation to make sure that water was available to the fire hydrants for firefighters to have.
Fire personnel will remain at the scene for several more hours to make sure there are no flare ups.
Photos of the incident at: www.facebook.com/LasVegasFD
END ## LVFR/PEIO-TRS
E45,48,9,56, T48, R48, HR44, EMS1, AR1, B4,10, PIO1
E42,107,55, T43, R45, B15
E44,28,T7(engine), T6,R9, WT9
109,113,309,310, CC909,912
Fire Watch: E26,28
Incident: 9253956
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