Ashes cause fire that displaces 2 neighbors, does $10K in damage

By Pashtana Usufzy

Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 | 11:17 a.m.

Two people were displaced and one was treated for smoke inhalation after ashes from a backyard fire pit caused a fire early this morning affecting two homes near West Lake Mead and North Jones boulevards, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

Also according to the fire department:

Firefighters were dispatched about 4:30 a.m. to a fire in the 6200 block of Don Gaspar Avenue. Hot ashes from a fire pit on the patio of one house caused an outside fire, and strong winds with gusts of 30 to 40 mph blew ashes onto the roof and side of the one-story house next door.

A man in the house with the fire pit attempted to put out the flames with a garden hose and suffered minor smoke inhalation. He was treated on the scene and declined to be taken to the hospital.

Firefighters extinguished the fires within a few minutes.

An investigation found that the fire pit was used during a party late Christmas night, and the people who used it thought the fire was out when they went to bed.

Two adults at the house next door were displaced, and the fire caused in $10,000 damage, most of which was exterior damage and minor interior damage to the attic of their home.

The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada is assisting the displaced residents.

Those using fire pits are advised to always soak the hot ashes with water, as the ashes can stay hot for more than a day and be blown away on windy days.