Fire at apartment complex displaces 21

By Cara McCoy

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 | 4:54 p.m.

A three-alarm fire this morning at an apartment complex west of the downtown area displaced 21 people and caused $250,000 in damage, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue said.

Firefighters responded at 9:30 a.m. to the report of fire at the Rancho Verde Apartments, 98 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., which is near U.S. 95. No injuries were reported.

The blaze was extinguished in about 30 minutes.

A resident told fire investigators she turned on a light in her bathroom, heard a pop and then flames started to come out of the light fixture. Authorities said the fire probably started in either the attic or a common utility area between apartments.

The two-story apartment units were built in 1979. Of the 24 units in the complex, four had heavy damage.

The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents, including two children.