Fire at construction site
Fire investigators are looking into witness reports that a small explosion preceded an early morning fire Wednesday that caused an estimated $1 million in damage at an apartment complex under construction in Henderson.
Doug Koopman, Henderson Fire Department battalion chief, said the fire occurred after 4:15 a.m. at the complex near the intersection of Gibson Road and Wigwam Parkway. He said investigators were labeling the fire “suspicious” based on witness reports of seeing the explosion followed by a car quickly leaving the area.
Emily McCann, an official with WestCorp Management Group, confirmed the Theory Apartments, a 296-unit, luxury complex at 1131 Wigwam Pkwy., were damaged in the fire.
A team of investigators will be on the site throughout the day to try to determine whether arson was involved, Koopman said. Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Lytle said investigators had not yet "validated" the witness reports as of midmorning.
A passerby reported the fire and Henderson firefighters responded about 4:21 a.m. Prior to the arrival of the first Henderson fire unit, a second alarm was called in from Clark County Fire Department for assistance.
The first unit to arrive found two, two-story, 16-plex apartment buildings in the wood framing stage of construction fully involved, with the fire about to spread to a third building, Koopman said.
Firefighting crews surrounded the buildings and were able to contain the fire to the two buildings and stopped the spread to any other buildings on the property, Koopman said. There were no injuries.
Koopman said it took the nearly 40 firefighters on site about an hour to bring the fire under control.
A construction management team at the complex provided the $1 million damage estimate, Koopman said. Pier Construction is the lead contract on the project.
McCann said although it was too early to be certain, she didn't believe the fire would delay the opening of Theory Apartments, projected for October.
Theory Apartments, McCann said, would feature luxury living in one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The complex will have a movie theater with stadium seating, and a pool and fitness center that both offer bottle service.
Wednesday morning’s fire was the second in three days involving a multifamily complex in Henderson. On Monday, fire officials said carelessly discarded smoking materials led to $760,000 in damage at the Mission Ridge condominiums at Carnegie Street and Horizon Ridge Parkway, just south of Green Valley Ranch Resort.
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