Man arrested on arson charge after fire in Las Vegas apartment
A man was arrested on arson charges Sunday after attempting to burn down an apartment, the Clark County Fire Department said.
The identity of the man, who had a previous arrest for attempted arson, was not released.
Fire officials said at about 9:30 a.m. they were called to the Sierra Vista Square Apartments, 920 Sierra Vista Drive, near Cambridge Street.
Las Vegas police were already on the scene, and the man was handcuffed.
Fire officials believe the man set a phone book on fire on an apartment stove. The fire was contained and didn’t cause serious damage.
Investigators initially believed the man laid over the burning phone book, causing burns to his stomach and chest. But they learned the man had poured bleach on himself three days earlier, causing chemical burns. Police used pepper spray on the man, which agitated the burns, fire officials said.
Police told fire investigators the man had a previous arrest for attempted arson.
The man was treated at a hospital and then arrested by county authorities on a charge of first-degree arson.
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
