Residential blazes keep Las Vegas firefighters busy

Las Vegas firefighters responded Wednesday to fires at two vacant homes believed to be occupied by squatters and a condo fire sparked by a dryer.

Just before 10:30 a.m., firefighters responded to 1304 Euclid Ave., near Fremont Street and Charleston Boulevard, after a fire inspector driving through the area noticed smoke coming from the one-story, wood-frame house.

Crews were able to douse the flames in a few minutes. They found the back door to the house open and a mattress and trash burned in the fire. Investigators believe that homeless people were using the house. Neighbors said they had seen people going in and out of the house all the time. Damage was estimated at $25,000.

Firefighters responded just after 11 a.m. to find smoke coming from the front door of the second vacant home at 1644 D St., near Owens Avenue. Neighbors and fire investigators believe that the house also was being used by homeless people.

The fire, which was contained to the front room and extinguished in a minute, caused about $5,000 in damage.

Crews responded to a third call about 3 p.m. at a condominium at 1346 Silver Sierra St., near Vegas and North Durango drives, where they found a dryer on fire in the second-story laundry room. The blaze destroyed a washing machine and dryer and caused moderate smoke damage to the second floor of the condo.

Occupants of the home left when the fire started and were uninjured.

The four adults displaced by the fire received assistance from the American Red Cross. Damage from the fire was estimated at $40,000.

Contact reporter Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0391.