Trash fire outside warehouse creates large plumes of smoke

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Thursday, June 4, 2015 | 2:10 p.m.

Updated Thursday, June 4, 2015 | 4:21 p.m.

Large plumes of smoke could be seen across the valley this afternoon from a trash fire outside a warehouse, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

The fire was reported about 2 p.m. outside a vacant, one-story warehouse in the 3000 block of Meade Avenue, not far from Rex Bell Elementary School. Crews put out the blaze within about 10 minutes, officials said.

The outside of the building sustained about $5,000 damage, but the interior was not damaged, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The fire initially was reported to be a tree fire, but that report was inaccurate, Szymanski said.

Someone at the scene reported a person was burned, but crews could not find anyone in the area who was injured, he said. No firefighters were hurt.

Metro Police were called to direct heavy traffic in the area from people trying to see the fire, officials said. The traffic jam initially blocked fire department units from getting in, officials said.

“When there is a fire, pull to the right and stay off street to allow first responders to do their job. Someone’s life may depend on it,” Las Vegas Fire & Rescue said in a message via Twitter.

The cause of the fire was not be determined, but 911 callers reported seeing homeless people fleeing the area near the warehouse, Szymanski said.