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UPDATE: Management suspects arson is to blame for apartment fire

Large fire reported at apartment complex
Posted at 10:44 PM, Mar 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-18 01:01:17-04

UPDATE AT 6:51 P.M.: Management of an apartment complex that's caught fire three times in less than a month suspect arson could be the cause. 

Investigators have not determined an official cause for fires that broke out on March 16, March 7, and Feb. 25 at the Solaire Apartments. However, Veronica Navarro, the assistant asset manager, said all buildings are up to code. 

"We haven't received any indication that it's a building issue with the wires or anything like that. We believe it's arson," Navarro said.

Navarro said security will continue watching vacant units closely. Inspections for each individual unit are also in the works. 

UPDATE ON MARCH 17: This is the third apartment fire in the same area in under a month. This time, a mother and daughter are safe, after jumping from their burning apartment.

Now, one man is being called a hero. 

"All you could hear were kids screaming 'help me, help me, help me!'," says one neighbor. 

Neighbors say one man jumped into action.  

"Instantly I just got my shoes and went to go help," says Sean Mathews. 

He says the mother and daughter were trapped inside one of the second story apartments, with flames surrounding them.

"It looked like the fire pits of hell," says Mathews. 

Mathews says that's when he told them to jump from their window. 

"They couldn't get out the front door because it was buried in flames," says Mathews. 

ORIGINAL STORY

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- The Clark County Fire Department responded to a large fire at an apartment complex Thursday night.

The fire was reported at 10:05 p.m. at 1500 Karen Avenue, near Sahara Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

Deputy Fire Chief Roy Session said the fire started in an eight-plex, which had three of the units occupied at the time of the fire. The fire department also said that the apartments share a common attic and that allowed the flames to spread quickly.

All residents were able to get out safely.

However, witnesses told 13 Action News that there were children who lived in the apartments who narrowly escaped the flames.

It is at least the second fire in recent months at the complex.

This is a developing story. Check back to 13 Action News for updates.