7 families homeless after fire destroys Henderson condominiums
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A fire tears through condos, at a complex in Henderson, leaving seven families homeless.
The fire destroyed an entire building at Mission Ridge Condominiums, which is located near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Carnegie Street.
Investigators say the high winds caused the blaze to spread quickly. Crews from both Henderson and Clark County were called to the scene around 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.
Pictures and cell phone video, taken by neighbors, show just how big the fire got.
"The fire was so big, that it just engulfed them when they were up on the ladder," says Angela Babb, who watched in fear, as firefighters battled the blaze. "The flames were just blowing in their faces. We thought they were done. We thought they were going to die up there."
Investigators say the fire started in an upstairs corner condo, and quickly spread through the attic of the building.
"I looked out and heard my neighbor screaming for help," says Tylan Crittenden who was inside the burning building. "Through all that black smoke, you could just see flames coming from her balcony."
Both Tylan and that neighbor were able to make it out alive. But everything they own is ruined.
"Now, I don't know what I'm going to do," he says. "All I owned was in there."
A total loss that Tylan says was caused by a careless mistake.
"Once we got out, I asked my neighbor how the fire started in her place and she said she was outside smoking and that she must not have put her cigarette out all the way," he says.
Fire investigators are not confirming whether a cigarette caused the fire. They say the investigation is ongoing.
The building, however, is a total loss. Luckily, no one was injured in the blaze. One person was treated for smoke inhalation.
The Red Cross is helping the residents who were affected by the fire.
If you would like to make a donation to help local families who have lost their homes to fire, please call (702) 369-3674 or go to www.redcrosslasvegas.org to make secure online contribution to Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps. All of the money donated stays in Southern Nevada and is used only to aid fire victims.
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