Cause of blaze investigated

The cause of a fire that destroyed a southeast valley condo construction site causing more than $10 million in damage Thursday evening might never be known, a Clark County fire official said.

Investigators completed their preliminary investigation Friday but have not determined a cause for the fire at the Murano condo complex at 1130 Silverado Ranch Blvd., near Maryland Parkway.

"We have several theories," said Assistant Fire Chief Fernandez Leary. "It may take several days, weeks or even months, if we ever can determine what caused the fire. That fire destroyed a lot. It's too big, and there are too many things we need to look at."

One theory is that the fire was accidental. Investigators learned that there were workers on the site Thursday, though they were apparently not using torches, Leary said.

While arson has not been ruled out, the timing of the fire does not fit that scenario, Leary said. Arsonists usually strike at night to avoid bringing attention to a fire until it can get going, he said. The fire erupted during the evening rush hour, about 6 p.m. Firefighters were immediately called by people passing by as soon as the flames got going. The fire spread quickly through the condo complex because of strong winds, officials said Thursday.

In the meantime, Clark County firefighters Friday rotated in and out of the scene extinguishing any hot spots that appeared in the smoldering rubble. Leary expected crews to continue their work through today.

A firefighter who suffered burns on his arm and ear battling the blaze was released from University Medical Center late Thursday, Leary said.

Meanwhile, folks who lived in homes near the Murano construction site on Friday assessed heat damage to their homes.

Eleanor Garcia, who lives across the street from the west side of the construction site, recalled on Friday that she didn't even know there was a fire until her neighbors came banging on her door.

The 50-year-old and her neighbors grabbed a hose and started spraying water on the back side of her home, which faced the blaze. Firefighters soon came by and told them to get out of the house.

Heat from the blaze was so intense that it melted window frames and blinds and shattered windows of Garcia's and her neighbors' homes. Trees and plants at some homes were scorched brown.

Garcia praised the firefighters' efforts to save her house. "I thanked every one I saw yesterday," she said Friday.

Flames from the blaze reached more than five stories high. The fire decimated 147 three-story condos, which had been under construction for about 14 months. The going price for the units according to the property's Web site was upward of $250,000.

Workers on Friday were seen making initial repairs on a neighboring CVS Pharmacy that sustained exterior damage. The store was closed for business.

Three alarms were called and more than 60 firefighters from Clark County and Henderson fought the blaze.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assisting Clark County fire investigators in determining a cause.