2 children die in vehicle fire at Las Vegas apartment complex
Two children died Saturday night in a vehicle fire at an east valley apartment complex, according to Las Vegas police.
Police and the Clark County Fire Department responded just before 6 p.m. to the fire in the Arcadia Palms apartment complex at 3655 E. Sahara Ave., between U.S. Highway 95 and Boulder Highway.
Officers found the vehicle engulfed in flames, Metro homicide detective Lt. Ray Steiber said about 11 p.m. Saturday.
“Upon extinguishing the fire [firefighters] learned that two juveniles were inside,” Steiber said.
Kelvin Young, 29, a resident of the complex, said he went toward the burning vehicle after he saw smoke. Shortly after, he heard at least one woman scream, “My baby!” and “My nephew!”
Young ran to get a fire extinguisher, but the flames coming from the older-model minivan were too heavy, he said.
Initial information may have indicated that there was foul play involved, so homicide detectives responded to the fire, Steiber said. But a preliminary investigation suggests it may have been an accident and the kids were playing inside the vehicle when it caught fire, he said.
The children, who were related, were being supervised and monitored and the vehicle was not running at the time of the fire, Steiber said. Police did not provide the relationship or ages of the children.
Arson investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire, but police said there are no suspects and this “may not have been an intentional act.”
“Children are going to play and it’s our responsibility as parents and caregivers” to monitor them, Steiber said. “Anything can happen at any time, whether it’s intentional and most times unintentional. Bad things can happen.”
Steiber said many people in the complex tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the fire.
As of now, police are not looking to charge anyone, Steiber said. No other injuries resulted from the fire.
Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber. Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.
