The fire, which caused a shut-down on the Vegas strip is now under control, but caused quite a stir for casino workers and visitors

By Stacey Silberman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/24/08 – A three-alarm fire erupted at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas today, right in the middle of the gambling town’s strip, which required the full-capacity hotel to evacuate all 32-floors of guests to the Belagio for safekeeping. At one point, flames were jumping from the roof and landing on the hotel’s front façade, making the fire look worse than it could have been, since its interior space was barely damaged by the blaze.

“It was an entirely exterior fire,” said a statement by the Clark County Fire Chief Steven M. Smith to CNN. He added, “At this time there’s no report of injuries or deaths.” Three exterior parts of three wings burned, but he said both the south and west wings were completely contained when he spoke. However, after two hours of work, the fire is now fully contained.

The chief also said the nature of the exterior locations made it difficult for firefighters to reach the charred areas.

“High-rise fires are never easy to fight. As you can see with it being outside, our firefighters actually had to hang out the windows to try and cut the fire off. We directed our fire streams at an angle so we could make contact with the fire. … It wasn’t an easy fire at all,” Smith said.

Apparently, welders had been working on the hotel’s rooftop today, but firefighters can’t say how or where the fire started at this time. The cause of the fire is now under investigation, said the LV fire chief.

Of course, as human interest would have it, many spectators were lurking, which caused horrific traffic through the main strip, which had to be shut down. Employees were frantic as they tried to get to their casino jobs, but to no avail. And many resorted to calling local radio stations for news and guidance, in regard to traffic and safety.

While the fire was in full blaze, guests could be seen rushing from the building, running for cover. The fire was called-in at around 11 a.m. and tourists were stopping to gawk at the burning $350 million hotel. The hotel was knocked down and rebuilt in 1996 and has over 3,000 guest rooms and other occupied spaces which comprise; 211 penthouse suites, lounges, restaurants, ballrooms, conference rooms, retail space, spa facilities and of course the gigantic casino.

The last time a fire broke out in Vegas was in 1980 at the MGM Grand Hotel, and it was the worst disaster in the strip’s history with 84 deaths and almost 700 injuries. The hotel is now called Ballys.

The Monte Carlo is a subsidiary of MGM Mirage, has about 3,000 employees and is home to entertainer Lance Burton’s Magic Show.