Doctors struggle to save lives of fire victims

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998 | 11:49 a.m.

Doctors early Wednesday were trying to save the lives of two children critically injured in a fire at their apartment.

"It doesn't look good," said Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach.

A 5-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl appeared lifeless when firefighters brought them out of a smoke-filled, second-floor apartment at 2870 S. Decatur Blvd., said witnesses who watched the tragic scene.

"Neither of the children had a pulse when they were taken to the hospital," said Leinbach.

The two children, believed to be brother and sister, apparently suffered severe smoke inhalation.

They had been sleeping in a back bedroom of the apartment.

Witnesses said a woman, who is either the children's mother or grandmother, had gone to work earlier in the morning before the fire erupted.

The children were in the care of a 16-year-old girl, who investigators believe is their aunt.

The teenager escaped from the burning apartment, but suffered some smoke inhalation.

Paramedics took the children and the older girl to University Medical Center.

A UMC spokesman said the children were being treated in the pediatric emergency room, where they were listed in critical condition.

The spokesman was unaware of the treatment of the teenager, but Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said the older girl's condition was not serious.

Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the blaze, which was reported at 7:18 a.m.

Witnesses said they saw flames shooting out of the apartment shortly after 7 a.m.

Leinbach said firefighters went through heavy smoke to reach the children.

Several firefighters were traumatized by the ordeal.

"Our guys are taking it real hard," Leinbach said.

A trauma intervention specialist was at the scene to help those having difficulty coping with the possibility that two small children may not survive.