A fire tore through a Las Vegas apartment complex on W. Charleston between Rainbow Boulevard and Torrey Pines Drive leaving 19 people without a home.
The fire broke out shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Authorities started receiving calls about smoke around 1:55 p.m. The two-alarm fire started on an outdoor balcony of a second-floor apartment unit at the Lantana Apartments on the 6500 block of W. Charleston.
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By the time the first firefighters arrived on scene, the fire had spread throughout the entire second floor of the two-story apartment complex engulfing eight units, according to news reports. Firefighters believe that wind contributed to the swift-moving fire and news reports stated that a wind tunnel formed bringing the blaze to another area of the complex.
The fire burned several units heavily damaging one building and the outside walls of two additional buildings. It displaced 14 adults and five children. Red Cross personnel from the Southern Nevada chapter arrived on scene and helped those in need find temporary housing
It took about an hour to knock down the fire, which firefighters contained at about 2:42 p.m. Crews stayed on scene afterward to watch for hot spots.
In all, 30 units and 75 firefighters from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and Clark County responded to the massive fire. Fire investigators have not determined the exact cause of the blaze.
The fire caused nearby Bonanza High School administration to call for a shelter in place for its students. The school released the student at 3 p.m.