Fifteen people displaced in Henderson apartment complex fire

By Nikki Villoria

Monday, Aug. 1, 2011 | 11:22 p.m.

A two-alarm fire caused $80,000 in damage, displaced 15 residents and injured one firefighter Monday evening, according to the Henderson Fire Department.

Firefighters said they responded to an apartment complex at 6530 Annie Oakley Drive near Green Valley Parkway and Sunset Road where a fire was reported by a maintenance technician, who was called to the site by neighbors.

Officials said when they arrived at the scene at about 4:30 p.m. they found heavy smoke and flames in the upstairs unit. A second alarm was sounded, bringing the Clark County Fire Department and representatives from NV Energy, Southwest Gas, and the Henderson Building Department.

The blaze was extinguished within 20 minutes, fire officials said.

The occupants of the apartment where the fire started were not home and there were no injuries to residents, firefighters said.

One firefighter was transported to the hospital for what appeared to be heat-related issues and has since been released, firefighters said. No one else was injured, they said.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but has been determined to be accidental, firefighters said.

A total of 15 people were displaced from the apartment building as a result. The Red Cross and property managers assisted with shelter and other immediate needs of the evacuees. Most of them should be able to reoccupy their homes some time Tuesday, firefighters said.