SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
At 1:36 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, Reno firefighters responded to a second alarm fire at The Park at Idlewild, 1850 Idlewild Drive. The blaze destroyed two apartments in an eight-apartment unit of the complex.
REMSA transported a mother and son living in the bottom unit, where the fire began, to Renown Medical Center. The son had a laceration. The mother, who was not using her oxygen, showed cardiac symptoms. There were four animals living in the bottom unit as well. Two kittens died and another cat is still missing. A dog escaped the fire.
Seven persons in the top unit, when the fire broke out, escaped without injury.
Battalion Chief Bob Knoll says the fire is still under investigation. “It is suspected that there may have been a propane leak where the some was cooking on a barbeque,” says Knoll. “Someone in the area heard a pop when the fire started.”
The Reno Fire Chaplain called the Red Cross to provide food, clothing and lodging to the residents of both units. The number of tenants included four persons in the bottom unit and three persons in the top unit.
Firefighters evacuated all eight apartments in the unit where the fire broke out. NV Energy was working to restore utilities to those units, so the other tenants could get back into their homes.
Engine 5 on Mayberry Drive responded to the two alarm blaze. There were three engines, one ladder truck, a rescue unit, safety officer, chaplain and battalion chief on the scene.
