Massive apartment fire serves as warning of firework dangers

By Rikki Cheese

CREATED Jul. 6, 2012

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  • Clark County Fire Chief Bertral Washington did not say fireworks were to blame for a blaze on Karen Avenue on Thursday, but his stern words of warning about adults, kids and fireworks, left little room for doubt. Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Clark County Fire Chief Bertral Washington did not say fireworks were to blame for a blaze on Karen Avenue on Thursday, but his stern words of warning about adults, kids and fireworks, left little room for doubt.

Chief Washington said, "There are several lessons that we can take away from this incident. One, is that adults need to be in control of fireworks. Children should never be left alone to play with fireworks."

Chief Washington held an afternoon press conference to talk about the blaze that caused more than $1.5 million in damage at the Sonoma Shadows Apartments near Sahara and Maryland Parkway. The fire gutted 22 apartments and left about fifty people homeless.

Firefighters believe the blaze may have started with fireworks on a downstairs patio and quickly spread; fueled by tanks of propane on the property.

Lateasa Rodgers was returning home from work when the fire broke out. She said, "When I came on the scene it was already up in flames and I was like, oh my God."

Rodgers lived upstairs with her son and pregnant daughter-in-law. The couple were among the three adults who were badly burned. Rodgers said they barely escaped with their lives. "He said that he covered her because he said he didn't want her to get burned or the baby to get burned. So he tried to cover her and that's how he got all the burns on his back."

A firefighter was also injured in what Chief Washington says may be the biggest and most costly fireworks-related fire in recent history. The chief says firefighters responded to calls involving legal and illegal fireworks before and after the holiday. He wants anyone who has leftover fireworks to turn them to fire department headquarters on East Flamingo. No questions will be asked.

Chief Washington said, "Fireworks are only supposed to be used on the Fourth of July."

The chief said the investigation into the fire should wrap up within a few days. Charges will depend on whether it was intentionally set, and the age of the person involved. A juvenile may be referred to the fire department's diversion program. An adult could face felony charges and jail time.