Las Vegas Sun

February 12, 2012

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Outdoor chemicals blamed in house fire

By Jackie Valley (contact)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 | 6:10 p.m.

House fire

Chemicals stored outside on Wednesday sparked a fire that caused about $35,000 in damage to a Las Vegas Valley home, fire officials said.

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue responded at 12:47 p.m. to the outdoor blaze at 8645 Mandevilla Circle near Durango Drive and Desert Inn Road.

Fire officials said the family of four smelled smoke and found the side of their house on fire. They evacuated the house and no one was harmed.

The homeowner had plastic shelves on the side of the house stocked with household chemicals, such as gasoline and tiki torch fuel, authorities said.

Fire officials said they believe an unused glass patio door leaning over the chemical products and an outdoor compressor for the air conditioner helped spark the fire as fumes from the chemicals exposed to the sun were trapped by the glass door and ignited when the air conditioner compressor started.

The fire damaged the outside wall of the house with extensive damage to wiring and light damage to the kitchen interior, fire officials said.

Fire officials, who ruled the blaze accidental, said it's another example of common household chemicals catching fire when exposed to the sun.

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