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| On November 21, 1980,
the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, experienced
the worst fire in the United States since the 1946 Winecoff Hotel
fire. Originating in the deli, the fire quickly spread throughout
the casino. Smoke propagated through the egress passageways. The automatic
fire alarm system either did not activate or did not sound; most guests
became aware of the fire situations after they saw or smelled smoke,
heard shouting from other occupants, or saw or heard the fire department
rescuers.
An investigation into this fire concluded that several factors
contributed to the resulting devastation. The level of fuels available
within the casino, the building configuration, and the lack of fire–resistant
barriers contributed to the rapid growth and development. The lack
of fire extinguishments at the start of the fire allowed the fire
to develop to a dangerous level. The vertical openings within the
building enabled smoke to spread with little effort. The means of
egress were compromised by shoddy construction; smoke infiltrated
into the smoke–proof enclosures and stairwells, as well as
through the HVAC system.
This fire resulted in the deaths of 85 people, injuries to approximately
600, and more than $300 million in damages
The MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas was not equipped with a complete
sprinkler system and was not required to be by Nevada law
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| The MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas reopened about a year
after a November 21, 1980, fire had left 85 dead and 500 injured.
Included in the $50 million reconstruction: An extra $5 million for
the very latest in fire-protection devices. The MGM fire started at
a short circuit in wiring behind a refrigerated pastry display caseãwiring
that had been improperly installed. It spread unseen in its early
stages, thanks in part to poor construction work and in part to breaches
in firewallsãholes made after the building went into service,
to accommodate new ductwork and wiring. . It took years to settle
the $1 billion in death and injury claims at MGM. |
| The MGM Grand Hotel
Fire Investigation Report |
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