Fire destroys apartment building at McCarran and Seventh Street Friday

A structure fire broke out at an apartment building Friday afternoon at North McCarran Boulevard and West Seventh Street in Reno.

The Reno Fire Department posted on X just after 2:30 p.m. that people should avoid the area. By 5 p.m. the fire was out but had caused extensive damage to the apartments and surrounding area.

Battalion Chief Roger Mooney said two dogs were killed in the blaze and eight apartments were destroyed in one building.

No residents or firefighters were injured or killed in the blaze, and crews were able to save 10 animals from the fire, he said.

According to Mooney, 12 people occupied seven of the units in the building destroyed by fire and are now displaced.

"We had a fire start of an unknown origin right now," he said. "Investigators are working on that, but because of the wind and the heat, it pushed through these eight units in the building really fast."

Mooney said 54 firefighters were on the scene to attack the fire.

"I had a group working on the McCarran side and a group working on the parking lot side to make an attack, and we had to coordinate our fire streams on that one, so we didn't spray water on one another and cause any damage that way."

Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue assisted the Reno Fire Department. Adam Mayberry, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue communications manager, said the agency had an engine and water tender at the scene.

Keith Paul, communications director for the Red Cross of Nevada, said, "A couple of volunteers went out there to help the folks that had been displaced."

While the exact number of people needing help was unclear, Paul said that the organization would meet with the affected residents to assess their needs and determine how to best help them.

The Red Cross assists with housing and basic needs immediately after these types of events, according to Paul. After that, the organization will collaborate with community resources to help those affected recover and regain stability.

This is a breaking news story will be updated as more details are available.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Fire destroys apartment building at McCarran and Seventh Street Friday