Stage lights spark fire call at Rancho High School

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Monday, Feb. 10, 2014 | 11:29 a.m.

Updated Monday, Feb. 10, 2014 | 1:10 p.m.

Rancho High School in North Las Vegas was evacuated today after drapes in the theater area of the school caught fire, a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue official said.

The fire has been extinguished and no injuries were reported.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said just after 11 a.m. students noticed a light haze and a smoke odor in the wing of the school housing the theater program. A teacher investigated and noticed drapery above the theater stage was smoldering, prompting a 911 call to firefighters and the evacuation of the school.

Several staff members used fire extinguishers on the drapes, Szymanski said. Arriving firefighters determined the fire danger was over and removed the burned drapery.

North Las Vegas fire officials who investigate the smoldering was caused by a stage light touching the drapery, Szymanski said.

Actions by students and staff snuffed out any problems before they got out of hand, he said.

"Everybody was on top of it so quickly," Szymanski said.

North Las Vegas Fire Department and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue crews responded to the fire at 11:03 a.m. at the school at 1900 E. Searles Ave., near Bruce Street.

Students were allowed back into the school before 12:30 p.m., a Clark County School District official said.

Officials estimated damages at $100,000.