News briefs for July 23, 2003

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

Grandmother, boy remain critical

A 3-year-old boy and his grandmother remained in critical condition late Tuesday at University Medical Center after an apartment fire started by children playing with a lighter.

The blaze killed Leanna Magnuson-Miller, 4, of Las Vegas, who was trapped in the bedroom with her cousin Michael Miller, 3, as flames and smoke prompted frantic neighbors to call 911 about 11 p.m. Monday in the 1900 block of Alwill Street.

Donna Miller, grandmother of the two children, was also listed in critical condition, a UMC nursing supervisor said.

Neighbors had used at least six fire extinguishers and buckets of water to battle the flames, but the intense heat prevented them from reaching the children, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The grandparents were babysitting the children.

The grandfather had been asleep on the couch in the living room with the 5-year-old and woke to people screaming that the apartment was on fire. The grandfather tried to get to the bedroom, but smoke and flames drove him away, Szymanski said.

The grandparents and the third child were taken to UMC for smoke inhalation, Szymanski said.

Woman injured in condo fire

An 81-year-old woman was in critical condition and her cat is dead after careless smoking set their condominium on fire Tuesday night, a Las Vegas Fire Department official said.

The woman was taken to University Medical Center about 9:30 p.m. with second- and third-degree burns, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Her home at the two-story Manetta Lane Condos, in the 1400 block of Michael Way, had an estimated $5,000 in damage, Szymanski said.

Firefighters found smoke and flames inside the apartment, which had fire alarms, he said.

The woman lived alone and the fire was confined to the bedroom.

It appeared she tried to put the fire out before trying to leave the condo, Szymanski said. Her cat died in the blaze.

Tuesday's low sets record high

The highest low temperature for July in Las Vegas ever recorded was set at 92 degrees Tuesday night, National Weather Service records show.

The previous record of 91 degrees was set on July 8, 1989.

If temperatures overnight remain in the high 80s to the 90s through next week, July 2003 could become the warmest July on record.

Clouds streaming overhead at night have trapped the warm air in the Las Vegas Valley.

With the trapped air the summertime pollutant ozone is concentrating at unhealthful levels as sunlight stews a mixture of vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and products such as hair sprays and paints, Clark County Air Quality officials say.

For the second day in a row on Tuesday, county officials issued an air quality advisory because ozone levels had become unhealthful in the northwestern valley.

Under an air quality advisory, active children and adults and people with diseases such as asthma are asked to limit the time they spend outdoors.

TB contact dates at courthouse noted

District Court officials are asking the public to take note of eight dates between September and February when a woman with tuberculosis appeared in a Clark County courtroom.

A female inmate at the Clark County Detention Center made appearances in District Judge John McGroarty's courtroom on Sept. 20, Sept. 30, Nov. 12, Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Dec. 11, Jan. 14 and Feb. 3, according to court officials.

Testing for private sector and court employees was expected to continue this afternoon.

Symptoms associated with the disease include coughing, night sweats, fever and a bloody cough. Health experts say it generally takes repeated exposure or prolonged exposure to a person with an active case to contract the disease

Members of the public who believe they may have been exposed to the disease while visiting the courthouse should call their doctors or the Clark County Health District's TB Clinic, 383-1369.

Girl, 2, who drowned is ID'd

A 2-year-old girl who drowned in a backyard pool Monday evening has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as Brianna Martinez of North Las Vegas.

Police were called to the 3700 block of Calumet Farms about 7:10 p.m. Monday on a report of a drowning. When officers arrived, several people were trying to resuscitate the girl, but she was pronounced dead about an hour later at University Medical Center.