Las Vegas Fire & Rescue
Firefighters put out a blaze at the vacant El Cid motel, 233 S. Sixth St., in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials.
Published Monday, Dec. 17, 2018 | 9:52 a.m.
Updated Monday, Dec. 17, 2018 | 1:35 p.m.
Firefighters rescued seven squatters from a burning vacant hotel in downtown Las Vegas this morning, as several others escaped on their own, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials said.
Nobody was injured, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
Fire dispatchers received multiple 911 calls about 9 a.m. that smoke was coming from the old El Cid hotel, 233 S. Sixth St.
When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were coming from the window of a room on the second floor facing Bridger Avenue, officials said. Metro Police estimated that as many as 50 squatters might have been inside the building, officials said.
Firefighters found the fire in a second-floor room and quickly put it out, officials said. The building was full of thick smoke and many windows were boarded up, making it nearly impossible to see inside, officials said.
Firefighters searched for victims room by room and rescued seven people, none of whom required medical attention, officials said.
This was the second time this year the building caught fire. The last time was Nov. 17.
The Clark County and North Las Vegas fire departments assisted at the scene, officials said.
