Family displaced by fire in home

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 10:48 a.m.

A family of four was displaced today after a fire that started in the kitchen of their one-story, wood-framed home led to $50,000 in damage.

Las Vegas firefighters arrived at the home in the 1700 block of Barrel Cactus Court, near Vegas Drive and Jones Boulevard, about 8 a.m. and found smoke coming from the kitchen, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Firefighters forced their way into the home and doused the flames that started on a kitchen counter and spread into the cabinets, causing fire damage to the kitchen and moderate smoke damage throughout the home, Szymanski said.

The family was not at home, Szymanski said, noting the mother was walking her two sons, ages 5 and 10, to school at the time the blaze broke out.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but appears to have originated from an electrical appliance, possibly a warming device, that may not have been unplugged after use, Szymanski said.

The family has contacted its insurance company to repair the home, he said.

The Clark County chapter of the American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the family, including potential lodging, Szymanski said.

Five city units and 20 firefighters fought the blaze, he said.