Late-morning calm in The Lakes neighborhood of west Las Vegas was shattered Tuesday when a two-alarm house fire tore through a home, sending thick smoke into the sky and drawing stunned neighbors out into the street. Fire crews rushed in and quickly boosted the response, bringing in extra engines as they worked to beat back the flames.
Multiple residents called in the fire around 11:50 a.m., and the incident was upgraded to a second alarm as the blaze spread, according to KSNV. Las Vegas Fire & Rescue told the station that crews "began an offensive strategy" as they attacked the fire, which remained active during the early stages of the response.
Victim transported to UMC
One woman was taken to University Medical Center with second-degree burns, the station reported, according to KSNV. Officials have not released her name, and no updated information on her condition was immediately available.
A busy stretch for responders
The call came on the heels of a hectic Fourth of July run for area crews. Fox5 reported that Las Vegas Fire & Rescue handled 288 emergency incidents over the holiday stretch, including 106 outside fires and 14 building fires. Department leaders have cautioned that high summer holiday call volumes can strain resources as firefighters hustle from one side of the valley to the other.
Where to find safety information
The city’s Fire Prevention Division offers public guides on smoke alarms, inspections and other fire-safety topics on the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue website: Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. Anyone with tips, footage or other information related to Tuesday’s fire is asked to contact local authorities.
