Woman found dead in burned home in northwest valley

By Rich Coleman

Published Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 | 4:18 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 | 8:40 a.m.

A woman found dead in a burned home Monday afternoon in the northwest Las Vegas Valley likely didn't die as a result of the fire, investigators said.

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue responded about 3 p.m. Monday to a medical call for a person who was possibly having a heart problem in the 7300 block of Backstretch Drive, which is near Tenaya Way and Azure Drive. When firefighters arrived, they discovered there had been a fire in the home.

Firefighters found a woman in her 20s on the floor near the front door. Fire department spokesman Tim Syzmanski said she might have been trying to get out of the burning house. Two dogs also were found dead in the home.

Officials said the fire started in the rear bedroom but had burned itself out. The rest of the house had heavy smoke damage, Syzmanski said. Fire officials estimate damage to the home to be $35,000.

Fire officials, Metro homicide investigators and the Clark County Coroner’s Office are trying to determine the cause of the fire and cause of death. The coroner's office will identify the woman.

Fire investigators are looking into the possibility of careless smoking contributing to the fire because smoking materials were found in the home and neighbors confirmed the victim smoked.

Sun reporter Jackie Valley contributed to this report.