Two injured in substation explosion in Las Vegas arts district
Two fires broke out on the same block within 12 hours on Sunday, causing extensive damage to both structures. Investigators are trying to determine if the two events are related.
Two people were injured during an explosion at a NV Energy substation in the arts district of Las Vegas at 6:39 a.m.
The blast near the downtown area caused the two people, who were on the sidewalk, to be hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The cause of the blast appears to be accidental, according to the Las Vegas Fire Department.
When firefighters arrived at the substation at 1004 S. Main St., they found the street littered with broken glass, metal and concrete, according to department spokesman Tim Szymanski.
The electric transformers were on fire and the odor of natural gas was detected nearby. The gas leak was stopped about two hours later. About 25 people were cleared from the area.
Just before 6 p.m. a fire broke out at Opportunity Village, 921 S. Main St., Szymanski said. The fire destroyed the building's receiving area. The roof of the store area collapsed, but the contents inside the store were not destroyed, he said. Much of the building had smoke and water damage. One firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion but the injuries were not life-threatening, he said.
Gas had been shut off to the building because of the morning incident but the power was still on, Szymanski said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. He said there was not an explosion like the incident in the morning.
The morning blast is being investigated by the department, its bomb squad and special investigators from NV Energy and Southwest Gas, Szymanski said. Extensive damage was caused to the substation and light to moderate damage to several nearby businesses, according to the Fire Department.
