Two unrelated fires cause $300,000 in damages

Friday, Dec. 26, 1997 | 9:54 a.m.

A pair of unrelated pre-dawn blazes minutes apart today tied up 14 Clark County Fire Department units and 60 firefighters on and near the Las Vegas Strip.

The fires caused one injury and resulted in $300,000 damage, said Steve La-Sky, spokesman for the fire department.

The first fire, a two-alarm blaze, broke out at 4:05 a.m. at the Holiday Royale Apartments, 4505 S. Paradise Road, La-Sky said. He noted the blaze gutted a first-floor apartment and climbed up columns outside the building.

While trying to escape the building, Tibur Arlatt, 43, a resident of a second-story apartment, fell while running down the outdoor stairs, injuring his ankle. He was transported to a local hospital to be treated for a possible broken bone, La-Sky said.

The blaze resulted in $250,000 damage and was caused by a malfunctioning heating/air-conditioning unit, La-Sky said. Eight units and 35 firefighters battled the blaze.

The call for the second fire came in seven minutes after the first.

Twenty-five firefighters and six units arrived at a souvenir/food mart at 3712 S. Las Vegas Blvd. to find the roof ablaze.

They confined the fire to the attic. There were no injuries at the business, the name of which was not posted on the front the building, La-Sky said.

The fire, which resulted in $50,000 worth of damages, was caused by a short circuit in an electric sign that the owner of the business said had been installed just a few weeks ago, La-Sky said.