Fire that damaged upholstery store ruled accidental
A downtown upholstery store damaged in a blaze last week was ruled accidental, fire officials said Friday.
Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said firefighters arrived July 14 at the Alex Rivas Upholstery store, 1218 S. Main St., near Charleston Boulevard, to find "heavy fire" and were concerned the blaze could spread to other shops within the strip mall.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but not before it caused moderate smoke damage to the neighboring Bail King and light smoke damage to a furniture business next to the bail agency.
Szymanski said the fire caused $200,000 in damage to the upholstery store. No one was injured, but a dog died in the fire.
Szymanski said the fire began outside the store and behind it, where items were stacked on shelves and furniture. The fire's exact cause was never determined. Careless smoking could not be ruled out, he said.
It was the third fire near downtown that week. On July 11, two fires broke out on the same block within 12 hours of each other. An explosion occurred Sunday morning at an NV Energy substation at 1004 S. Main Street. The electric transformers caught fire.
Just before 6 p.m., a fire broke out at the Opportunity Village Thrift Store at 921 S. Main Street.
The official cause of those fires are still undetermined and remain under investigation, he said. Officials do not believe the three incidents are connected.
Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.
