News briefs for September 3, 2004

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Fire sweeps through apartment complex

Nineteen people were displaced Thursday night after a two-alarm fire swept through their northwest Las Vegas apartment complex that afternoon.

An apartment manager was giving a tour of the Indigo Creek Apartments, in the 2200 block of North Buffalo Drive, when she noticed smoke coming from one of the buildings, according to Las Vegas Fire and Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski.

Firefighters arrived at the complex about 1 p.m. and found smoke coming from the roof of the two-story complex, he said. A second alarm was called, bringing 20 units with 50 firefighters to put out the flames, he said.

The fire, which was under control in less that 15 minutes, damaged one upstairs apartment and caused smoke damage to others.

Szymanski said damage was about $140,000 and no one was injured in the fire.

Fire investigators said the fire was cause by an electrical malfunction and was an accident.

Craig Road closes for construction

Beginning Sept. 13 at 7 a.m., Craig Road between El Capitan Way and Durango Drive will be closed to through traffic while contractors install flood controls, the Las Vegas Public Works Department said.

The closure will last until late October. But residents who live on roads accessible by driving only on Craig Road will still be able to use the road, Debby Ackerman, a spokeswoman for the department, said.

The four- to six-week project at Craig Road is part of the Gowan North Channel improvement plan the Public Works Department began in June. The project is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2005.

NLV Police arrest fugitive

A routine DUI stop Thursday resulted in the arrest of a man wanted in Los Angeles in connection with a hate-related incident, North Las Vegas Police said.

Jaime Martinez, 21, is to remain in the North Las Vegas jail while awaiting an extradition hearing on attempted murder charges, slated for Tuesday.

Officer Tim Bedwell, spokesman for North Las Vegas Police, said a patrol officer spotted a vehicle weaving on Lake Mead Boulevard and pulled it over. The officer determined the driver, 21-year-old Jessica Dennis of Las Vegas, was under the influence of alcohol.

A records check on her passenger, Martinez, revealed that he was wanted in Los Angeles on charges of shooting a man he suspected was gay. The shooting occurred at a restaurant in June, Bedwell said. Martinez was on parole for a gun offense at the time, authorities said.

Dennis will face the DUI charge in North Las Vegas Justice Court.

Dust advisory remains in effect

The Clark County Air Quality Division issued a dust advisory Thursday for sensitive people, including the very young, the elderly and those with chronic diseases. The advisory will remain in effect as long as winds blow at least 25 mph.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Harrison said that winds up to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph were expected, but no wind advisory had been issued.

The county's advisory covers inhalable dust particles that aggravate respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or asthma.

County officials recommended that all residents limit outdoor exercising during dust storms.

As part of the dust advisory, county officials notified construction site operators to check and stabilize their properties for blowing dust and debris as required by local air quality regulations.

Residents observing blowing dust may call a 24-hour dust complaint hotline at 385-3878 to report excessive dust clouds.

Death Valley definitely is open

Rumors that Death Valley National Park is closed until January are not true, the National Parks Service announced Thursday.

The park is open to the public with the exception of two routes into the park, which were closed after a flash flood hit the park August 14, a spokesman said.

Badwater Road from Shoshone, Calif., to Furnace Creek is currently closed and estimated to reopen within the next two to four weeks.

California Highway 190 from Death Valley Junction to Furnace Creek is also closed and will take several months to rebuild, spokesmen said.

Visitor service facilities at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Scotty's Castle and Panamint Springs are currently open. Motels, restaurants, gift shops and gas stations in the area are also open.

Visitors traveling from Nevada can enter the park from U.S. 95 at Beatty or Scotty's Junction. All roads going west out of the park are open.

Road updates are available on the park's Web site at www.nps.gov/deva or by calling (760) 786-3200.