Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Man critically burned in downtown fire

A Las Vegas Fire Department inspector saw what he thought was a rubbish fire burning near downtown Las Vegas today, but found a man in the flames.

The inspector was driving near Main Street and the 900 block of South Commerce Avenue when he spotted flames and smoke, said Tim Szymanski, spokesman for the Las Vegas Fire Department.

After calling a dispatcher, the fire inspector saw a middle-aged man standing practically in the middle of the flames and yelled for him to get out, Szymanski said. The man moved away from the fire and collapsed on the ground.

Firefighters found two mattresses, a couple boxes filled with clothing and a small amount of trash along with a fiberglass shed engulfed in flames.

The man was taken to University Medical Center's burn unit with third-degree burns over most of his body, Szymanski said, who described his condition as critical.

The identity of the man is unknown at this time, Szymanski said.

There was a significant amount of smoking materials found behind the fiberglass shed. People working in the area told fire officials that the man, who they say was homeless, stayed there at night.

The fire is still under investigation by Las Vegas fire investigators and Metro Police.

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