Homeless man found dead after LV fire

Monday, Feb. 5, 2001 | 10:43 a.m.

A homeless man was found dead in a West Las Vegas duplex consumed by fire early this morning.

Las Vegas firefighters were called to a building in the 700 block of Madison Avenue near G Street about 1:40 a.m. and found heavy flames coming through the roof, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it does not appear suspicious, official said.

Firefighters needed about 30 minutes to get the fire under control. After the fire was out, the man's body was discovered. The man's name was not released this morning pending positive identification and notifying his family, officials said.

The building had been vacant for several years and was boarded up to keep people out. The fire destroyed the building.

A hole was found on the side of the building where people could go in and out. One person who lives nearby told investigators that two people were known to be staying inside the vacant building.

Since there was death, Metro Police homicide detectives were called to the scene of the fire. Police will investigate the death as a homicide only if arson is the cause of the fire or if the man was killed prior to the fire starting.

An autopsy will determine the man's cause of death.