Two women escape injury in fire that heavily damages house

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 | 3:39 a.m.

An elderly woman and a visitor escaped injury Wednesday night after the woman’s house caught fire, gutting the living room and doing about $100,000 damage, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue officials said.

The fire was reported at 11:21 p.m. in the 1900 block of H Street, near West Lake Mead Boulevard, officials said. The cause was ruled accidental, but an exact cause was not determined.

The women were in the rear of the house when the smoke alarm went off, fire officials said. They found the living room couch on fire and, with the help of neighbors, escaped through the front door, officials said.

Dispatchers received several calls about the blaze, and firefighters could see a thick column of black smoke from the fire station, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were coming out the windows and doors. It took about five minutes to bring the fire under control.

The house, which was built in 1960, was filled with flammable materials, such as wood paneling, that was popular at the time and helped fuel the fire, officials said.

The house sustained extensive smoke and heat damage, and most of the contents were destroyed, officials said. The Red Cross was assisting the woman who lived at the house.