Probe of Sierra Nevada Arms fire still focusing on arson as cause

The Thursday morning fire that burned three buildings that were once the Sierra Nevada Arms publicly-assisted apartment complex is still considered suspicious by fire department officials.

Arson, however, has not as yet been officially ruled as the cause.

Through a private contracting firm, city officials today are checking to see if any asbestos leaked into the environment. Thursday, officials said they doubted that any of the cancer-causing material escaped, but that checks would be made so they could know for sure.

City officials were relieved because no one was hurt and that the day's low winds prevented the fire from spreading at the site south of Lake Mead Boulevard near Simmons Street and Holly Avenue.

But along with their relief came regret. This fire never should have happened -- these buildings were not supposed to have been there. In fact, the City Council voted for their demolition last Monday -- a process that's been in the works for more than three months when the buildings were declared a public nuisance and safety hazard.

"We are concerned about the safety of the residents," said City Councilman Gary Reese. "That's our No. 1 concern right now."

Sharon Segerblom, director of the city's Neighborhood Services Division, said the city is paying for a security guard to be posted at the buildings 24 hours a day until the buildings are torn down. The demolition and clean up should be done in a few weeks, Segerblom said.

"We're moving up the time frame as quickly as possible," she said.

The city isn't sure how much the guard will cost, but it's already dished out $200,000 for the demolition contract on the structures -- money that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development already paid for the buildings to be brought down.

But instead of demolishing, the contractor hired to wreck the buildings sold the salvage rights to Mike Kinzler, another local contractor. Kinzler, still listed as the owner of the buildings despite the city's demolition order, could not be reached for comment.

The property owner, Shepherd Hills Development, was sold the land by HUD for $1 two years ago. The buildings were to be demolished with a grant from HUD for $448,000 -- $264,000 that's already been paid out to Shepherd Hills. Officials from Shepherd Hills could not be reached for comment.

The city is working on receiving the remaining grant allotment from HUD, Segerblom said.

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