Jan. 15, 2023 Las Vegas, Clark County and North Las Vegas firefighters used a defensive attack as flames devoured the long-vacant former Kmart building.
By Jeff Burbank Source Las Vegas Review-Journal Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire that engulfed a vacant Kmart store building, a Clark County fire official said Saturday.
The Las Vegas Fire Department received the call about the blaze at 3 p.m. at 2975 E. Sahara Ave. near McLeod Street, and 30 units had arrived just before 4 p.m., according to Clark County Fire Department Assistant Chief Scott Carnahan.
The entire building was on fire as firefighters took a defensive posture outside, Carnahan said.
“There’s too much danger to going inside the building,” he said.
City of Las Vegas spokesman Jace Radke said the building was vacant.
Carnahan said the fire went to three alarms, and there was a partial collapse of the roof. No one was reported injured, and there were no immediate details on how the fire started or estimate of damage.
In an update Saturday evening Carnahan said the building was unstable.
“Building officials and public works have been requested for evaluation and the Parks Department is providing fencing to the area for security,” he said in an email.
Crews from the Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire Department and North Las Vegas Fire Department responded to the fire. Las Vegas police also assisted with drone support and traffic control.
A thick smoke plume could be seen across the valley.