Firefighters find woman dead in Las Vegas apartment fire

By Brian Nordli

Published Wednesday, April 10, 2013 | 4:35 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, April 10, 2013 | 10:30 p.m.

A woman died Wednesday in an apartment fire at the Destinations at Valley View apartment complex sparked from careless smoking in the living room, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire about 4 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Valley View Boulevard, near Oakey Boulevard. Two sisters and a dog shared the apartment. Minutes before the fire, one sister left to walk the dog. She returned to find firefighters battling a blaze and black smoke rising from the door, Szymanski said.

Her sister was still inside.

Firefighters knocked down the living room fire in five minutes and made their way to the bedroom, but it was too late. The woman had died, Szymanski said.

The fire started on a wooden table in the living room and then spread to the couch. Szymanski said the fire was ruled accidental and appeared to be caused by careless smoking. The fire also caused $50,000 in damage to the apartment, and $15,000 in smoke damage to a second nearby apartment.

The fire was confined to one apartment unit. Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire.