Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Woman arrested on arson charges after fire burns vacant apartments

Apartment Fire on East Lewis Avenue

L.E. Baskow

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue cut a hole in the roof during an apartment fire at 1820 East Lewis Ave. which spread to a nearby tree and shed on Thursday, June, 19, 2014.

Updated Friday, June 20, 2014 | 10:01 a.m.

Apartment Fire on East Lewis Avenue

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue attack an apartment fire at 1820 East Lewis Ave. which spread to a nearby tree and shed on Thursday, June, 19, 2014. Launch slideshow »
June A. Wilkinson

June A. Wilkinson

A 29-year-old Las Vegas woman has been arrested in connection with an alley fire this morning near downtown that spread to two vacant apartment buildings, authorities said.

June A. Wilkinson was arrested on two counts of first-degree arson and booked into the Clark County Detention Center, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials said.

Firefighters responded about 11:20 a.m. to the fire in the alley behind 1815 E. Charleston Blvd., near Bruce Street.

Witnesses say they saw a woman set a couch on fire on the side of the alley. The fire quickly spread to a large tree next to the couch, and from there it jumped to two vacant apartment buildings at 1816 and 1820 E. Lewis Ave. The fire also destroyed overhead utility cables in the alley, fire officials said. Damage was estimated at $50,000.

Witnesses saw the suspect flee, although she stopped briefly to set a nearby bush on fire, officials said. She was soon detained by Metro for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue fire investigators, who arrested and charged Wilkinson.

Fire investigators are looking into whether Wilkinson is connected to a recent string of fires in the area.

No injuries were reported, officials said.

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