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December 5, 2009

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Incense blamed for downtown Reno highrise fire

Saturday, June 28, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

No one was injured in the blaze Friday at the 16-story Park Tower Apartments, but the fire could have been worse, said Chief Chuc Lowden.

Both the tower's alarm system and a pump to add pressure to its sprinkler system were found to be inoperative, he said. Even without the pump, the sprinkler system partially worked, he said.

"I have no doubt that if it were not for the sprinklers, there would have been more extensive fire," Lowden said.

"We issued a notice of violation, which means to get them (problems) fixed immediately."

The fire was confined to an 11th-floor room, but several other rooms were damaged by smoke and water.

Investigators said the fire apparently was caused by burning incense that Nicholas E. Ipiotis left behind in his apartment.

A piece of glowing incense was blown by wind into computer paper on a dining room work table, investigators said.

It took firefighters about a half hour to put out the 10:36 a.m. fire. Dozens of residents were evacuated as a precaution.

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