Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

By the numbers: A look at Las Vegas fire calls in 2012

Harbor Cove Fire

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue

Fire trucks and equipment are shown in the predawn Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, near 2957 Harbor Cove Drive, where a house sustained an estimated $200,000 damage in a fire.

Continued economic recovery across Las Vegas in 2012 led to a busy year for the city’s fire department, which saw increases in the number of calls received and units dispatched.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said 2012 was busier than years past and that 2013 was shaping up to be even more active.

The department responded to 97,225 fire, medical and hazardous-materials incidents in 2012.

“When things start slowing down in town, even if it’s just a few weeks, we see the number of calls decrease,” Szymanski said. “When things are getting good, calls increase.”

Szymanski attributed the increased activity to a number of factors, including higher occupancy rates in buildings and more construction projects.

Five people died in fires in Las Vegas in 2012, an increase from two in 2011 and three in 2010. One person has been killed in a fire this year.

“You have your good years and your bad years. You can’t put your finger on it,” Szymanski said. “We try hard to educate the public and do fire prevention … but we have no control over that.”

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is made up of 664 employees spread across 18 stations.

Here’s a look at the department’s year in numbers:

    • Number of 911 calls: 338,000

      The city’s fire alarm office also receives 911 calls for the Clark County and North Las Vegas fire departments. The alarm office dispatched 328,357 units in 2012, including 124,908 units from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

    • Total fire responses: 2,056

      741 fires in houses, apartments, condos, hotels or other residences

      154 fires in retail, office, storage and other commercial or public buildings

      1,161 fires in vehicles, brush and dumpsters, and all other fires

    • Total property damage from fires: $8,212,149

      The largest fire of the year happened May 4 when a three-alarm blaze at the Ashford Manor apartments caused $750,000 worth of damage and displaced 25 residents.

    • Total emergency medical responses: 88,484

      The fire department provided medical treatment to 37,795 people and transported 7,240 to the hospital by ambulance.

    • Hazardous type responses: 5,005

      This includes 1,072 hazardous-materials responses and 164 technical rescues. The department’s bomb squad responded to 125 incidents.

    • False alarms: 1,142

    • Incidences of arson: 49

      The department investigated 247 fires for suspicious activity.

    • Fire fatalities: 5

      Two fatal fires were started by an improper use of gasoline, two were started by careless smoking and one was a kitchen fire.

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