Unattended candle causes complex fire

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

An unattended candle left burning inside an apartment in the 1400 block of South Valley View Boulevard caused a fire at a senior citizens complex that forced two residents to other units in the complex Monday.

A visiting senior citizen said she tried to use a bucket of water to put out the flames that spread from a candle left in a bedroom at the Country Club at Valley View Senior apartment complex, but the fire spread, blowing out an upstairs window in the two-story building, said Tim Szymanski, spokesman for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

The owner of the apartment was not at home at the time of the fire.

Firefighters arriving at the complex at 2:13 p.m. Monday saw flames and smoke, Szymanski said, but they had the fire out in less than 10 minutes, he said.

The fire gutted the upstairs apartment and caused smoke and water damage to the unit below it, Szymanski said. Damage is estimated at $70,000.

The woman was treated at the scene for slight smoke inhalation, minor burns and singed hair, but refused to be taken to the hospital.

After firefighters made sure the fire was out, the woman returned to the apartment and apparently was overcome by the amount of damage. She had to be taken to the hospital, Szymanski said.

Property manager Debbie Bradshaw at the club said upstairs and downstairs occupants were moved to other apartments in the complex.