Reno fire under investigation

Reno Fire Department investigators have started the task of trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed 22 of 36 unoccupied buildings at the Alexander Apartment complex.

Despite the intensity and aggressiveness of the blaze that was reported at about 11:50 p.m., firefighters successfully kept the fire from 14 of the apartment structures on the complex at 11380 S. Virginia St., said Reno police and fire spokesman Steve Frady.

The intensity of the fire and its proximity to an adjacent mobile home park prompted officers from the Reno Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office to evacuate residents.

Those residents were allowed to return to their homes by about 6 a.m.

More than 65 fire personnel responded and remained on scene through about 7 a.m.

The road remained closed in both directions until about 3:30 a.m.

Old Virginia Road and South Virginia Street also were closed by officers from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and Reno Police Department due to fire operations that impacted several lanes on the east side of the street. The Nevada Department of Transportation later opened Virginia Street with one lane of travel for morning commuter traffic.

NV Energy officials responded to the scene and shut power off to the complex for firefighting operations, with some temporary local power outages that affected some businesses and residences in the immediate area.

Due to the magnitude of the fire, Frady said, Reno Fire Department investigators are working with the Reno Police Department and have requested the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which assisted the fire department in the investigation of the Mizpah Hotel fire in 2006.

Investigators also have been in contact with the Nevada State Fire Marshal Division for potential use of resources from that agency to assist with the investigation.

Fire investigators say it may be several days or longer to make a determination on the cause of the fire.

The Alexander Apartments complex has been under construction for some time with 35 apartment buildings, each with 10 apartment units as well as a recreation building.

The complex is being developed by Stockton-based AG Spanos. Project representatives on scene said that four of the units located on the Virginia Street side of the complex had recently received certificates of occupancy, but had not yet been occupied, while other units are close to being completed for occupancy certificate review.