Two people, three dogs rescued in Las Vegas bee attack

By Kyle B. Hansen

Saturday, June 12, 2010 | 3:51 p.m.

Two people and three dogs had to be rescued from their eastern Las Vegas home Saturday after being attacked by bees.

The bees were exposed when a large tree fell on the house at 1500 Pacific St., near Oakey Boulevard and Eastern Avenue. The tree’s trunk, which contained a beehive, was broken in three places, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The fire department was called to the home at 10:36 a.m. with a report that someone had been stung multiple times by bees at the home. When paramedics arrived, they found hundreds of bees flying around the one-story home.

The people who called for assistance were told to stay inside their home while firefighters tried to get the bees under control, but the bees quickly got inside the home and began to sting the two residents and their three dogs, Szymanski said.

Firefighters used blankets to cover the residents while rescuing them from the house and transporting them to a waiting ambulance down the street, but the dogs were left inside the house until bees were brought under control.

The two residents were taken to Sunrise Hospital for treatment, but their injuries were not serious, fire officials said.

Firefighters used foam from a fire engine to knock down the bees in the yard and used a shop vacuum to capture the bees inside the house.

It took about two hours for firefighters to get the situation under control. Metro Police officers closed the street for about 90 minutes and firefighters went door-to-door advising people to stay inside their homes until the bees were gone.

An animal control officer, who used protective clothing from the fire department to access the house, was eventually able to take the three dogs from the home. Only one of the dogs appeared to have multiple stings, Szymanski said.

No firefighters were injured in the event, but a private exterminator will be needed to remove the dead tree and the beehive from the property, officials said.