UPDATE MAY 18: A Red Cross Emergency Relief Shelter will remain open Thursday for residents displaced from the apartment fire near Sierra Vista and Swenson Street.
There were 16 people registered at the relief shelter located at Cambridge Recreation Center.
Residents who were displaced from this apartment fire are encouraged to go to the Cambridge Recreation Center (located at 3930 Cambridge St. in Las Vegas) to meet with caseworkers. Caseworkers will meet with families on an individual basis to determine how the Red Cross can help the displaced residents.
UPDATE 11:20 A.M. MAY 17: Several people living in the Villas at Desert Pointe complained of confusion during an apartment fire Wednesday morning.
Renters say the complex had organized a fire drill for Friday, May 19. Even though the alarms sounded during Wednesday's fire, some people said others got trapped, thinking the drill was happening earlier than expected.
Renters say the other reason for confusion is that some pedestrian gates were blocked off.
"Everyone tried to run here and get out, but nobody could get out," says one man, James Dillard, whose family is now displaced from that fire.
13 Action News reached out to the apartment complex regarding blocked pedestrian gates, and they told us they didn't have a comment.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Clark County Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at 995 Sierra Vista Drive at approximately 12:46 a.m. CCFD sent four engines, one truck, one rescue, and two battalion chiefs to attend to a high-level structural fire.
Upon arrival, personnel reported smoke from multiple floors of a three-story apartment complex. The fire appeared to have begun on the first floor, penetrated a common wall, then spread to the upper floors and attic space. Firefighters made an offensive attack and knocked the fire down at a reported time of 1:46 a.m.
All occupants were able to safely evacuate. Management of the apartment complex is still assessing damages. Early reports are 45 total units were affected and displaced individuals, but only 5 were severely damaged.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
