Residents escape through window of burning downtown home

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue

This home in the 1200 block of South Fourth Street in downtown Las Vegas caught fire Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016 | 8:45 p.m.

With the only exit blocked by flames, two residents and their dog had to escape their burning downtown Las Vegas house through a window Tuesday evening, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

Firefighters were called to the 1200 block of South Fourth Street, near Las Vegas Boulevard, about 5 p.m. and had the fire, which at one point threatened a second house, under control in under five minutes, officials said.

Investigators believe the blaze, which caused about $20,000 in damage, originated outdoors and the flames spread to the home's living room, officials said.

Two adults and a dog were indoors when the blaze began and they were able to escape through a back bedroom window with the help of neighbors, officials said. They were not injured and were being helped by the Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross.

The incident remains under investigation and investigators haven't ruled out careless smoking or an outdoor refrigerator as the cause of the fire, officials said.