Emergency crews detonate pipe bomb near Ash Meadows

Pahrump emergency crews were summoned to a desolate area near Ash Meadows on Monday afternoon after a crudely designed pipe bomb was discovered just off the roadway.

Fire Chief Scott Lewis said emergency crews from Las Vegas also responded to the scene.

“We found evidence of what appeared to be a pipe bomb-type object comprised of what appeared to be 1.4-gram type fireworks,” he said. “We also had a crew come out from Las Vegas, who blew it up without incident. It had the makings of a regular pipe bomb but it just wasn’t a high-grade-type pipe bomb. It was a very low-grade pipe bomb made with retail grade materials. It was kind of crude by the looks of it.”

Lewis said that incident was followed by a motor vehicle crash along Highway 160, near mile marker 41, just before 5 p.m.

“Upon arrival, we found that the occupants or driver fled the area prior to our arrival as well as law enforcement,” he said. “We consider that a refusal by action. They may have been injured but we will never know because they left the scene.”

More than an hour later, fire crews were dispatched to U.S. Highway 95 at mile marker 18 for a two-vehicle collision just before 7 p.m.

“Upon arrival, we found a semi-truck versus a car where we worked with officials from the test site,” he said. “One patient was extricated from their vehicle and then flown out via Mercy Air. The second person refused medical treatment.”

On Saturday, emergency crews were dispatched for a report of a single-vehicle crash along Murphy Street and Prospector Lane just before 10 a.m.

“While en route, it was upgraded to a two-vehicle accident,” Lewis said. “Upon arrival, crews found a car versus motorcycle accident where there was multi-system trauma to the motorcycle rider. Mercy Air 21 was brought to the scene where patient care was transferred and that patient was subsequently flown to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas.”

On Sunday afternoon, fire crews were dispatched for a report of an unknown-type fire along the 4300 block of West Jasmine Street.

Lewis said upon arrival, crews found a ground-cover fire which extended into a doublewide manufactured home.

“The fire had traveled to the underside of the structure,” Lewis said. “Crews made great progress and accessed the fire quickly. They extinguished it without any severe damage to the structure. There was a sole occupant and the cause of the fire is under investigation.”

Later that day, fire crews responded to the area of Highway 160 near Manse Road after receiving reports of a car versus pedestrian collision just before 7 p.m.

“Upon arrival, crews found a bicycle-related accident, but it is unknown whether a vehicle was involved,” Lewis said. “The rider of the bicycle sustained multi-system trauma and Mercy Air 21 landed onto Highway 160 where a landing zone was established and that patient was flown to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas.”

Last Tuesday, fire crews responded to the 3400 block of Hardy Lane for a report of a structure fire.

“Upon arrival, we found an outbuilding type structure to the side of the property in close proximity to the primary dwelling,” Lewis said. “The structure was fully involved in flames.”

Lewis said crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire without incident, and there was no extension to the primary dwelling.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes