At 11:09 Friday morning, Las Vegas firefighters responded to the Pavilions apartment complex at 7100 Pirates Cove Road (Westcliff/Buffalo) when several people reported smoke coming from a two-story wood frame/stucco apartment building.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they found the fire originated in a water heater closet, which is located on the patio of a downstairs apartment. The fire and smoke extended up the chimney chase and extended to the apartment above.
Firefighters brought the fire under control in less than ten minutes. The fire was mostly inside the walls where the chimney shaft is located, which extends from the ground floor to the roof. As the fire burned up the shaft, it also spread laterally which caused most of the damage to the apartment patio and bedroom of the apartment above. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire was spreading to the attic which might have caused extensive damage. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
Fire investigators ruled the fire accidental, the result of plumbers using a torch while working on a water heater on the first floor.
Two people are displaced because of the fire. They are receiving assistance from family.
There were no reported injuries.
END ## LVFR/PEIO-TRS
E44,6,2,43,42, T6,7, R6,2,43, HR44, EMS1, AR1, B10,1, 6i1, 6i6