Las Vegas firefighters investigate the cause of a vacant house fire at 1700 Howard Dr. on Monday, May 4, 2020. One person was found deceased inside the house. on Monday, May 4, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye
All lanes of Eastern Avenue between Oakey Boulevard and St. Louis Avenue remained closed as Las Vegas police and firefighters investigate the cause of a vacant house fire at 1700 Howard Dr. on Monday, May 4, 2020. One person was found deceased inside the house. on Monday, May 4, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye
Fatal house fire in east Las Vegas, Monday, May 4, 2020. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Fatal house fire in east Las Vegas, Monday, May 4, 2020. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Firefighters and police at a fire that killed one person at a boarded-up house at 1700 Howard Dr. on Monday, May 4, 2020. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
One person was found dead after a fire at vacant house at 1700 Howard Dr. in east Las Vegas, Monday, May 4, 2020. (Las Vegas Fire Department)
Firefighters begin inspection of a vacant house at 1700 Howard Dr. after flames were extinguished on Monday, May 4, 2020. One person was found deceased inside the house. (Las Vegas Fire Department)
Flames come from a boarded-up house at 1700 Howard Dr. on Monday, May 4, 2020. One person was found deceased inside the residence. (Las Vegas Fire Department)
One person died in a fire at a vacant house in east Las Vegas early Monday, according to fire officials.
Crews were called to 1700 Howard Drive, near South Eastern Avenue and Oakey Boulevard, at 5 a.m. Firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the roof of the boarded-up, single-story house.
A body was found in a bedroom, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.
“We were told on arrival there were possibly two people trapped inside the house,” he said. “Apparently it is used by squatters or homeless people.”
Neighbor Craig Bravo said he was in his backyard when he heard a commotion at the residence.
“I went inside, put on my mask and gloves and ran over there to see if I could help,” Bravo said. “I got there before the cops or fire. Then they showed up really quick after. I just wanted to help.”
He said the house has been vacant for an extended period and also caught fire roughly three weeks ago.
Arson and Las Vegas police homicide investigators were called to the scene, which is protocol for fatal fires, Szymanski said. No firefighters were injured.
In a previous version of the story, the Las Vegas Fire Department provided an incorrect address for the house.
