5 escape North Las Vegas house fire after dramatic rescue

By Erin Dostal

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 | 10:55 a.m.

A man, his wife and three children escaped from a fire at their North Las Vegas home Tuesday night in what officials say was a dramatic rescue.

The fire department received calls about the fire at 10:23 p.m. and arrived at the home, 4433 Summer Glen Lane, within six minutes.

When firefighters arrived, officials said the single-story home was engulfed in heavy flames, with smoke coming out of its front door. A man was stuck in a front window of the home, with flames and smoke coming out of the same window, authorities said. The man’s wife was trying to help him get free and out of the house.

Firefighters broke into the home and rescued the couple. Three children already were outside the home’s front door, officials said.

All five were taken to University Medical Center, where the adults were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns and injuries, and the children were evaluated for smoke inhalation, fire officials said.

It took firefighters more than an hour to put out the fire, officials said, and the home was considered a total loss. No neighboring homes were damaged.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.