Fire started in kids’ apartment

Keith Paul

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

The fire that killed four people Tuesday, including three small children, started in the children's apartment, but the cause was still unknown, Clark County Fire Department officials said this morning.

"It's our highest priority and we're working with Metro (Police) and ATF," said Bob Leinbach, Clark County Fire Department spokesman.

The 7 a.m. blaze killed 73-year-old Sam Kloner and Helen Williams' three children -- 4-year-old Ledeana, 3-year-old Jae and 2-year-old Eric. It destroyed the eight-unit apartment building, causing $500,000 in damage and displacing 36 residents.

Investigators have talked with several witnesses and are searching for more people who may have seen the beginnings of the fire in building 45 at Cedar Springs apartments, 1750 E. Karen Ave.

Metro homicide investigators continue to work with fire investigators in case the fire was intentionally set, making the deaths homicides.

"We don't have any indications at this point that it was criminal, but we still don't know yet," said Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit.

Josie, the department's arson-detection dog, did not sniff out any evidence on the exterior of the building that flammable liquids were used to start the blaze.

A funeral service for Ledeana, Jae and Eric will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at the downtown chapel of Palm Mortuary. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery.

The children are survived by their mother, Helen Williams, grandmother, Saundra Harris of Law Vegas, great grandmother, Dorothy Walker of Las Vegas, and two grandfathers, Eric Williams Sr. and Robert W. Darling.

A graveside service was set for 10 this morning at Woodlawn Cemetery for Kloner.