Arson suspected in downtown hotel fire

Jace Radke

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000 | 11:01 a.m.

Las Vegas Fire Department investigators are looking for an arson suspect in connection with a Tuesday morning fire at a downtown hotel.

Investigators would not elaborate on the suspect or how the fire was started, department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The fire started in a third floor room at the Queen of Hearts hotel, 19 Lewis Ave., just after 9 a.m. and led to about $175,000 in damage.

The man who was staying in the room where the fire started told other guests that someone had entered his room and lit a fire and then ran out.

Hotel owner Ann Meyers said the guest was acting strangely at the fire scene.

"It was strange. He was acting kind of smug at the scene," Meyers said. "I don't really know enough about what happened, but I'm a little uncomfortable with his story."

The 45 guests staying at the Queen of Hearts were moved to Meyers' other property, the Nevada Hotel. Meyers did not know if the guest who was staying in the room where the fire started had checked in at the Nevada Hotel.

Investigators would not comment on whether the guest was a suspect in the case.

Meyers said that the hotel, which is more than 25 years old, would be repaired and would reopen.