74°F
weather icon Cloudy

Classic car erupts into flames

A Las Vegas couple’s visit to Boulder City did not go as planned when their car erupted into flames in downtown Boulder City on Friday.

There were no injuries.

Paul MacKenzie, and his wife, Gloria, drove to town to check on their boat and get some candy. They drove two cars, and one was Paul’s 1981 Datsun 280 ZX, which they had just picked up from the shop. “As soon as I turned the key, it was all of the sudden,” Paul said about the fire starting. “It must have had a short in it. It drove fine up here.”

“It was scary,” Gloria added. “I was waiting for him to back out and saw all the smoke. I was just thankful he wasn’t on the freeway.”

Several people gathered fire extinguishers and attempted to put out the fire until the Boulder City Police Department and fire department arrived on scene.

Paul MacKenzie has owned the car since it was new, and over that time has had mechanical and body work done on it but Friday was the first time it was on fire.

Boulder City Fire Department Captain Aaron Bleck said the cause of the fire was unknown. After the fire was extinguished, MacKenzie had the car towed away.

Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
City does U-turn on parking

Last week, the city posted on its social media outlets an invitation to the public to attend an open house May 19 to discuss its plans for parking along Nevada Way between Wyoming and Arizona streets. The plan called for parking in the center of the street.

Memorial Day events set for cemetery

The Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery will again host a ceremony to honor those who have lost their lives in service for the country whether it was during times of peace or wartime.

Robotics team scales high in 2025

The Boulder City High School High Scalers robotics team (AKA Team 3009) recently wrapped up another winning campaign with some big awards.

Thomas reports on strategic plan at council meeting

The new city manager’s first public presentation in a city council meeting was about kind of old news — an update on the five-year strategic plan that was approved by the council in October of last year. The plan covers the years 2025 through 2030.

Council hears update on FY 2026 budget

The months-long process of adopting a city budget for the 2026 fiscal year took another big step forward last week as Budget Director Angela Manninen presented the city council with adjustments that had been made since the preliminary budget was first presented. Fiscal year 2026 begins on July 1.

Grad Walk: A decade of memories

In just a decade it’s become a tradition every senior at Boulder City High School looks forward to, as do public school students who will one day do the same.

Parking town hall scheduled

Mayor Joe Hardy led off this week’s city council meeting with an unexpected statement regarding an item that was not on the agenda. At least not until next week.

Meet BC’s new city manager

Even people with a long history in Southern Nevada get sticker shock when they start to consider a home in Boulder City. And Boulder City’s new city manager is no exception.

A step back in time

Photos by Ian Cruz/Boulder City Review

LMNRA extending popular launch ramp

Those looking to get in some boating time this summer may have to wait a bit longer each time when doing so.