LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Monday morning blaze badly damaged attic space of a former elementary school building where squatters had been living in downtown Las Vegas, but a fire official said no injuries were reported.
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said smoke was billowing and several people were seen leaving the one-story former St. Joseph’s Catholic School when firefighters arrived shortly before 8:30 a.m.
“They told us when we got on the scene that several people were staying inside that building, Szymanski said after flames were doused before 9 a.m.
A damage estimate was not immediately made and Szymanski said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
The school at Bridger Avenue and 13th Street closed in 2013 after 65 years.
Szymanski said power, natural gas and water utility service had long been shut off to the building and the cause of the fire may have been accidental.
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