Las Vegas Fire Fighters Escape Gunfire

September 4, 2009 – Some Las Vegas, NV Local 1285 fire fighters made a narrow escape after being shot at while responding to a house fire. Fortunately, none of the fire fighters was hurt.

“This incident was a very close call for our members,” says Local 1285 President Dean Fletcher. “If the gunman had used a more powerful weapon, or if our fire fighters had gotten out of their fire engines, this could have been much worse. We are relieved that they are okay.”

When the 9-1-1 call came in, there were no reports of criminal activity, so fire fighters were dispatched for a house fire.

When the first and second engines arrived on scene, a man – identified later as Bryan Hanasz – allegedly began shooting directly at the fire fighters. The windows of the engines were shattered, but none of the bullets hit any of the Local 1285 members.

“Not knowing that a gun was at the scene of the fire, our members did not immediately realize they were being fired at,” says Fletcher. “After they realized what happened, they backed away from the scene until police secured the scene.”

Investigators believe that Hanasz’ mother lived in the home, but was not there at the time of the fire. They also suspect arson, but would not confirm who started the blaze.