LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A fire that destroyed most of an apartment complex under construction and did millions of dollars in damage was arson, investigators said.
Thursday's fire destroyed 23 buildings and 349 apartments at the Firenze development in southeast Las Vegas. No one was injured.
Officials with the Clark County fire department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Tuesday that the findings of an accelerant-detecting dog, witness interviews and video footage all point to arson. Lab tests to confirm than an accelerant was used were pending.
``This was intentionally set,'' fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said. ``We just don't know what the motive is.''
ATF's national response team was called to assist with the investigation because of the size of the fire. Damage was estimated at $10 million to $15 million.
Construction on the 462-unit complex began in December and was expected to be completed later this year. Firefighters were able to save nine buildings with 113 units. The developer said it plans to rebuild the destroyed buildings.
It was the second large blaze at a construction site in the area this year. Investigators concluded that a January fire that did $6.5 million in damage also was arson. No arrests have been made.
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