A significant blaze broke out early Friday morning at a shopping complex located across from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), causing extensive damage to eight businesses, including a post office. According to 8 News Now, the fire was reported shortly after 8 a.m. at 4632 S. Maryland Parkway and quickly engulfed the building known as the University Gardens.
Clark County Fire Department's Deputy Chief Thomas Touchstone reported that firefighters faced a two-story strip mall with "heavy fire and smoke showing from the roof." While no injuries have been reported to date, the post office was confirmed destroyed in the incident. Crews from the department executed a defensive strategy to protect the northern and southern ends of the building, resulting in minimal damage to those areas, despite the center section's collapse under intense flames.
Further details from News 3 Las Vegas indicate that around 100 to 125 fire personnel responded to the third-alarm fire, which was reported to be 90 percent contained by 9:30 a.m., and is not posing a threat to other nearby structures. While the cause of the fire remains uncertain, reports suggest it may have originated at the back of the complex.
The stability of the structure has impeded search efforts, as "we haven’t been able to search the main occupancy, and that’s going to take us a few hours," Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Touchstone told 8 News Now. The involved agencies are expected to conduct a thorough investigation, including the use of dogs to inspect the area and federal authorities to look into the post office destruction.
For the duration of the incident, traffic was halted in both directions on Maryland Parkway between Harmon Avenue and University Road.
