News briefs for May 27, 2005

Friday, May 27, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

Three injured in house fire

Clark County fire investigators are trying to determine what caused an early morning blaze at a house on East Harmon Avenue near Mountain Vista Street that injured a mother and her two children.

The fire started about 1:30 a.m. in the back of the one-story house in the 4700 block of East Harmon.

Firefighters found the mother and the two boys, who are believed to be under 10 years old, in two separate bedrooms in the center and front of the house. All three were unconscious and not breathing, Bob Leinbach, Clark County Fire Department spokesman, said.

The boys were not injured as seriously as their mother, who died at one point, then was revived, he said.

Most of the damage was concentrated to the covered back patio and kitchen in the rear of the house. It appears the fire started outside the house, Leinbach said. Investigators found a ruptured gas meter but it's unclear if that contributed to the fire.

Investigators this morning had not found any smoke detectors in the house, Leinbach said.

Man found shot to death

A man was found shot to death Thursday night in a street in North Las Vegas near Simmons Street and Washburn Road, police said.

Officers were called to Clear Canyon Lane and Crystal Canyon Drive about 11 p.m. after receiving calls about gunshots outside, Officer Tim Bedwell, police spokesman, said.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was found dead as the result of one or more gunshot wounds. The circumstances of the incident aren't clear, Bedwell said. Detectives were questioning a person but no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or police at 633-9111.

Trauma center nearly ready

St. Rose Dominican Hospital expects to begin treating trauma patients at its Siena campus in Henderson as soon as next month, the hospital and county health officials said on Thursday.

The hospital is preparing to open a Level 3 trauma center, meaning it can take patients who have suffered less complicated injuries.

University Medical Center was home to the Las Vegas Valley's only trauma center, a Level 1 facility, until February, when Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center opened a Level 2 center.

State inspectors will review St. Rose's facility on June 3, St. Rose spokesman Andy North said. The inspectors will then have three weeks to report on their findings, which may require some changes from the hospital.

North said the St. Rose trauma center anticipates treating 300 to 500 patients per year.