Two-Alarmer Destroys Homes Under Construction in Las Vegas

A 2-Alarm fire destroyed two houses under construction on the city's north side late Thursday evening. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to several other homes under construction and nearby occupied homes. There were no injuries during the fire.

Several calls were received at 8:19PM Thursday night that a vehicle was on fire near 215 & Jones Blvd. As Engine 41 was leaving the station, Captain Billy Strand noticed a large column of smoke and a bright glow in the sky; he knew there was more than a vehicle on fire. He called for second alarm, which sent 16 units with nearly 50 firefighters to the scene.

Engine 41 arrived at 6220 Barkis Court in the Laurel Wood subdivision and found one 1-story wood frame house fully involved and another 2-story wood frame house heavily involved with fire. Firefighter's first concern was to stop the fire from spreading to several other nearby houses under construction and to occupied houses on the next street. Within 20 minutes firefighters had the fire under control and extinguished within 40 minutes.

Witnesses told fire investigators that a pickup truck was parked between the two houses and was on fire, which spread to the two houses. No one on scene knew who the truck belonged to. The truck was completely destroyed, as well as the two houses. Damage was estimated at $200,000.

Firefighters were expected to remain on scene for several hours during the night wetting down hot spots. The builder was planning to bring the remains of the two houses down during the night.

The incident remains under investigation.

• 1st Alarm: E41, 9, T9, 54, R41, HR10, AR1, EMS1, B4
  
• 2nd Alarm: E6, 42, 203, 53, T6, R54, HR21, B1, PIO, 801, 6i2, 6i7