Running head: MGM GRAND HOTEL AND CASINO FIRE 1

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Fire

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MGM GRAND HOTEL AND CASINO FIRE 2

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Fire

In 1980, on November 21, a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel caused the deaths of 85

innocent people; more than 600 others were injured and about 35 firefighters required

medical attention.

The Hotel was located at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and East Flamingo

Road. The 26-story building, constructed in early 1970s, included a ground floor area

with the Casino, a jai alai fronton, showrooms, a convention center, restaurants, and the

below-grade level, with a movie theater, a jai alai fronton, a wide gallery of service areas,

boutiques and stores, and underground parking.

The undetected fire burned for hours until 7 a.m., when it was noticed in a

restaurant The Deli, which was arranged on Casino level. The fire fighters office received

an alarm call at 7:16 a.m. There were immediately dispatched four engines, one ladder,

one hose-wagon, one rescue unit and 23 fire fighters. At 7:18 they were at the place. First

units were assigned to the high-rise floors of the hotel for evacuation. At 7:21 a.m., there

were requested additional engines, rescue units, and ladder. At 7:26 a.m., ambulances and

traffic control were requested. At 7:30 a.m., all available helicopters were brought into

evacuation of people. The one of the units of fire fighters covered the south side; the

second unit was sent to the west wing for evacuating operations; third and fourth units

connected to the sprinklers and standpipes, and they were pumping into the fire

department’s standpipe connections. At 8:00 a.m., the fire fighters decided to cut off the

blaze between the Casino and the hotel’s high-rise zone. Then, the fire fighters called

“MEDALERT” (i.e. all available ambulances). At 8:25 fire was at controlled stage.

Shortly before 9:00 a.m., the casino floor was clear from fire. But there was still heavy

smoke on the hotel’s upper floors. At 10:45 a.m., were reported only spot of fires.

As reported by the Clark County Fire Department, the most possible reason that

caused the fire was heat generated by an electrical earth-fault within an inflammable

offstage space in a waitresses’ serving room of The Deli. Completely embracing the Deli,

a flame wave front migrated through the Casino zone. Smoke then continued its

expansion to the high-rise part of building through elevator, seismic joints, stairways,

hoist-ways, and air conditioning system. The departure from the high-rise tower was

hampered due to smoke expansion into stair-ways, exit ways and through lobbies.

Apparently, the tower’s high-rise evacuation alarming system was not activated,

and most occupants learn about the fire only when they heard or saw fire fighters, or

heard other guests screaming and knocking on the doors. Some guests were able to exit

unassisted down stairs, but others were prevented from escaping by dense smoke and

have to return to their rooms. Some of them broke windows hoping to be saved by

rescuers or to get fresh air.

The hotel was partly equipped by sprinklers, but largest part of complex that

include the Deli and the Casino, where the fire was originated, were not equipped by

sprinklers. Despite the remonstrance of the fire marshal, the building department

approved the proprietor’s request to avoid fire sprinkler mounting, and that resulted with

tragedy. This fire could have been extinguished by several fire sprinklers, but instead 85

people have died.

After horrible tragedy, Nevada entered the most severe fire and building in the

U.S. As a consequence, the building and fire codes were revised and became the most

demanding and thorough rules for fire sprinkler and life safety in the world. Every hotel

MGM GRAND HOTEL AND CASINO FIRE 3

higher than 55 feet was obliged to be updated with fire sprinkler systems; every future

building three stories or more was obliged to be sprinklered too.

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References

Investigation report on the MGM Grand Hotel fire, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 21,

1980, report revised on January 15th, 1982, prepared by Richard Best, National

Fire Protection Organisation.

Lessons from the Past: MGM Grand Fire, by Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, published

November 18, 2010 at firehouse.com