Sept. 27--A woman died in a house fire early this morning, but her three children and mother escaped without injury, fire officials said.
One of the victim's children called 911 at 1:24 a.m. to report the blaze, which was inside a garage converted into an apartment. The house is located at 716 Brenner Way, near Bonanza Road and Lamb Boulevard.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crews arrived to find smoke coming from the garage, spokesman Tim Szymanski said. Firefighters had to force entry through a metal-bar security door, which was the only way into the garage apartment.
Inside the apartment, a smoldering fire was producing thick smoke, Szymanski said. Firefighters found the woman on the floor in the back of the apartment.
Paramedics initiated CPR and advanced life-support procedures, but the woman died a short time later at University Medical Center, Szymanski said. Her identity has not been released.
The woman's family told investigators that smoke alarms activated in the main house, but they couldn't find the source of the smoke, despite a burning smell, Szymanski said. When they went outside, they noticed smoke coming from the garage but couldn't get inside because the side door was locked, he said.
The garage apartment did not have a smoke alarm.
The blaze started in the middle of the garage apartment, possibly ignited by smoking materials and candles, Szymanski said. The fire appears accidental, but the cause remains under investigation.
Officials estimate the blaze caused $20,000 damage, which was confined to the apartment.
It was the eighth fatal fire in Las Vegas this year.
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