Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Woman who died in downtown apartment fire is identified

A woman who died Tuesday evening after a fire at a downtown apartment building has been identified as 66-year-old Sangwal McGinnis, according to the Clark County Coroner's Office.

McGinnis, a Las Vegas resident, was found Tuesday afternoon lying unresponsive on the floor of an apartment in the 300 block of S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue said.

Crews were called just before 2 p.m. to the two-story apartment building, and when they arrived on scene, heavy flames could be seen coming out of the window of an upstairs unit, the fire department said.

Firefighters who entered and discovered McGinnis on the floor removed her from the apartment, and she was hospitalized in critical condition with injuries due to smoke inhalation and burns, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue said.

The official cause and manner of her death has not yet been released by the Coroner's Office.

The fire was confined to the one unit, mostly in the living room and bedroom, and it caused about $70,000 in damage, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue said.

An investigation indicated the fire began on a mattress in the living room, where officials believe McGinnis slept.

Fire investigators believe McGinnis, who had mobility and health issues that impacted her movement, was in bed when the fire began, the fire department said.

Investigators believe McGinnis was a smoker, the department said.

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