Fire at central valley apartment complex displaces 22, causes $200K damage

A fire at an apartment complex near downtown Las Vegas left 22 people displaced Thursday night.

The blaze started about 8:15 p.m. between two separate, two-story, four-unit apartment buildings at 205 N. 18th St. and 209 N. 18th St., near Fremont and Bruce streets, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

In between the units were many different “combustibles,” including wood fencing, which stoked the fire, Szymanski said. As the blaze grew, it leapt into the attic of each building and spread within.

Crews took about 15 minutes to knock down the flames. Though there were no injuries, Southern Nevada Red Cross volunteers were called to the scene to assist the nearly two dozen people displaced.

The cause of the fire was unclear as of 10:30 p.m., but Szymanski said the department “can’t rule out careless smoking.”

Crews estimated damages at about $200,000.

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Find @rachelacrosby on Twitter.