Cause of fire in northwest still undetermined

Monday, March 15, 1999 | 11:04 a.m.

Investigators today are still trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed four homes under construction and damaged three completed homes in a northwest Las Vegas neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szykmanski said it may be Tuesday before a cause has been determined.

The fire was in the Mountain Aire housing development near Elkhorn Road and U.S. 95. It was reported about 4:30 p.m.

Fire engulfed four homes that were under construction on Purple Mountain Avenue and damaged the outsides of two completed homes, fire officials said.

The intense heat started a seventh home on fire at 7828 High Steam Court, which suffered extensive damage before the fire could be put out. A 15-year-old had just come home from school when he noticed that the back of his house had caught fire from the heat of the construction fire, fire officials said.

Fire investigators believe that the fire started in a house under construction on Purple Mountain. Four houses that were under construction were destroyed in the fire, and three finished houses were damaged.