Las Vegas Apartment Fire on E. Tropicana Kills 1, Displaces 7

A late-night fire in a two-story apartment building in southeast Las Vegas killed one person on Monday, October 5, and forced seven other residents from their homes. Clark County Fire Department officials said the cause had not been determined as of Tuesday morning reports.

What happened

Clark County dispatch received the first call at about 11:51 p.m. for a blaze on East Tropicana Avenue, a few blocks from Eastern Avenue, in the 1900 range of addresses. The first engine crew arrived to find smoke and flames coming from a first-floor unit of the multifamily building.

Firefighters went in with hose lines and found a person inside the apartment where the fire started. Crews removed the person, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities had not publicly identified the victim in the reports reviewed for this article.

Who was affected

The fire stayed within the apartment where it began, according to Deputy Fire Chief Billy Samuels. Even so, smoke displaced seven other people from the building. No firefighters were hurt.

The county fire department sent 45 people and a long list of apparatus, among them seven engines and two ladder trucks, plus two investigators. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police handled traffic control and NV Energy secured power to the building.

Help for displaced residents

Management of the property, relatives and the Red Cross were all reported to be assisting those who had to leave. The accounts did not say how many units are in the building, how long residents may be out of their homes, or whether the property has working smoke alarms.

Cause and investigation

Fire investigators were at the scene, and officials said the cause remains under investigation. No cause has been announced, so none should be assumed.

What this means for renters

Smoke can force out neighbors even when flames never leave one unit, so a fire in someone else's apartment can still leave you without a home overnight. A few steps are worth taking now:

• Keep a go-bag with medications, ID, chargers, a spare key and copies of your lease and insurance details.
• Check your renters insurance for "loss of use" coverage, which can pay for a hotel and meals when a building is unlivable even if your own unit was not burned.
• Test your smoke alarms monthly and tell your landlord in writing if one is missing or not working.
• Know two ways out of your unit and of the building, and agree on a meeting spot with household members.

Displaced tenants who need immediate help can contact the American Red Cross, and should ask property management in writing about temporary housing, rent and deposit questions. For a step-by-step list, see our guide on what to do in the first 72 hours after an apartment fire.

This story will be updated only if officials release a cause or identify the person who died.