Fire at vacant Las Vegas restaurant believed to be arson

Las Vegas arson investigators suspect a Monday morning fire at a vacant fast-food restaurant near downtown Las Vegas was intentionally set.

The fire was reported by “many callers” just after 9 a.m. at a former Checkers restaurant at 1900 E. Charleston Blvd., according to the Las Vegas Fire Department.

When crews arrived, they found thick, black smoke rising from the roof of the boarded-up, one-story building and extinguished the fire within minutes. No one was injured, the department said.

The fire, which caused an estimated $25,000 in damage, began in at least two locations inside the building, according to arson investigators. In addition, the department said, a shopping cart full of various items also was burned behind the building.

Squatters have been seen using the building, according to the department.

Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter.