Homeless people suspected in blaze

The blaze that burned down a shuttered Henderson casino probably was caused by homeless people, Henderson Fire Department officials said Wednesday.

Battalion Chief Jeff Lytle said that although the exact cause of the fire at the Alystra Casino building Tuesday night was unknown, the fire probably was sparked by transients.

"It was deemed to be human caused," Lytle said. "Whether it was malicious or not is undetermined at this point."

Lytle said firefighters did get reports Tuesday night that homeless people might have been caught in the blaze. However, he said no human remains were found in the abandoned building Wednesday.

A dog was sent through the rubble to check for bodies.

There was no gas or electricity in the building.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Goble said firefighters have been called to the property twice in the past two years for small fires, most likely caused by homeless people.

Lytle said the monetary losses to the fire were still unknown, but the building was a complete loss.

The Alystra, at 333 W. Sunset Road, near Boulder Highway, had been vacant for at least a decade.

Firefighters were called to the building at 6:48 p.m. Tuesday night.

They still were dousing hot spots in the building at 10:15 p.m. Plumes of smoke from the fire could be seen for miles throughout the Las Vegas Valley.