Man killed in fire at his antique store

Karen Zekan

Monday, Nov. 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A man who sold antiques in eastern Las Vegas for nearly 18 years was killed while trying to escape a fire that investigators believe was caused by an electrical malfunction in his shop.

Tony Scaramosino, 59, called 911 operators at 7:43 a.m. Sunday to report smoke quickly filling A Little Bit of Heaven at 2026 E. Charleston Blvd., near Eastern Avenue, fire officials said.

The first Las Vegas Fire Department crew to arrive four minutes after Scaramosino's call saw white smoke coming out of the roof and heavy black smoke pouring from the storefront.

"Firefighters had to make entry through a steel bar security door and then a front door with two locks before they could get in," said Tim Szymanski, fire department spokesman.

Scaramosino was lying on the floor, just inside the door, when firefighters finally pushed the door in. A fire extinguisher was near him on the floor but was never used.

"He called 911 to report the fire and may have even tried to put the fire out" but succumbed to smoke inhalation, Szymanski said. "Fire investigators ruled the fire as electrical in origin."

A Little Bit of Heaven, located among a cluster of antique stores in The Pavilion shopping center, was Scaramosino's chance to blend his collector's hobby with work, neighboring shopkeepers said.

Scaramosino was the second person to die in a fire this year in the city.

Dorothy Brogan, 72, was killed Jan. 10 when her home at 8001 Nestled Vista Drive, near Buffalo and Vegas drives, caught fire.

Investigators have determined from autopsy results and evidence in the burned living room that the elderly woman suffered a heart attack while smoking and dropped her cigarette into her lap, igniting her clothing.