MGM Grand fire: Difference between revisions

MGM Grand fire
Date	November 21, 1980
Venue	MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
Location	Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Type	Fire
Cause	Electrical ground fault caused by electrical receptacle
Deaths	85 (78 guests, 7 employees)
Non-fatal injuries	~600–700+

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The MGM Grand fire occurred on Friday, November 21, 1980, at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (later Bally’s, now Horseshoe Las Vegas, and unrelated to the current MGM Grand Las Vegas), located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The fire killed 85 people, most through smoke inhalation.^[1] The fire began from a refrigerated pastry display case in one of the restaurants, located on the first floor. Fire engulfed the resort's casino, and smoke travelled into the hotel tower.

The tragedy remains the deadliest disaster in Nevada history, and the third-deadliest hotel fire in modern U.S. history, after the 1946 Winecoff Hotel fire in Atlanta that killed 119 people and the 1986 Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico that killed 97.^[2]^[3] The incident led to the reformation of fire safety guidelines and codes in the state.

Fire

At the time of the fire, about 5,000 people were in the MGM Grand, a casino and 26-story hotel with more than 2,000 hotel rooms that had opened in 1973.^[4]^[5] At approximately 7:07 a.m. on Friday, November 21, 1980, a fire began in a restaurant known as The Deli. The fire was discovered during an inspection of the restaurant by a tile crew. A crew supervisor noticed a flickering light, which turned out to be a wall of flames.^[6]^[7] An employee of the hotel's bakery recounted how just after 7 a.m. he saw smoke coming from the ceiling vents just before the lights went out.^[8] MGM security was immediately advised of the situation, and alerted the Clark County Fire Department (CCFD) which was the first agency to respond. CCFD received a call reporting the fire at 7:17 a.m., with the first engine arriving on site from across the street at 7:19 a.m.^[7]^[9] A third alarm was called at 7:22 am, and a Metro Police helicopter pilot requested all available helicopters at 7:30 a.m.^[9]

Other agencies included the North Las Vegas Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the Henderson Fire Department. A massive helicopter rescue effort from Nellis Air Force Base pulled 1,000 people from the roof of the MGM Grand,^[6]^[10]^[11] involving both U.S. Air Force UH-1N (Hueys) from the 57th Wing based in Indian Springs and CH-3E (Jolly Green Giants) from the 1st Special Operations Wing based in Hurlburt Field, Florida (which were in Nevada to participate in Red Flag '80).^[12]^[13]

The fire spread to the lobby, fed by wallpaper, PVC piping, glue, and plastic mirrors, racing west through the casino floor at a speed of 15–19 ft/s (4.6–5.8 m/s; 10–13 mph; 16–21 km/h) until a massive fireball blew out the main entrance, facing the Las Vegas Strip. From the time the fire was noticed, it took six minutes for the entire casino floor to be fully engulfed.^[7]^[14]^[15] It spread across the areas of the casino in which no fire sprinklers were installed. Eighteen people died in the casino level of the hotel.^[16]

The fire was limited to the first floor,^[17] but the burning material created toxic fumes and smoke, which ascended throughout the hotel tower via vertical shafts (elevators and stairwells) and seismic joints, causing the majority of the deaths.^[18] Approximately 350 firefighters responded to the fire,^[19] and some reported having to crawl through the dark and over "mounds of stuff" trying to extinguish the fire. It was later determined that the "mounds" were deceased guests and staff near an elevator bank.^[6] The Las Vegas fire department operated separately from the county fire department; the latter served the Las Vegas Strip, so city firefighters were unfamiliar with the MGM's layout, including fire escape routes. This hindered the rescue effort.^[20]

Proper evacuation of the hotel guests was also hindered as there was no automatic means of returning elevators to the main floor during a fire, causing 10 deceased victims to be found in an elevator.^[16] Some hotel guests tied bedsheets together and hung them on balconies to alert first responders. Some tried using the bedsheets to descend the hotel's exterior.^[8]^[21] Fire ladders were only able to reach the ninth-floor exterior.^[22] One man escaped the hotel tower by lowering himself down a rope.^[23]^[24]

Some people, trapped in their hotel rooms, broke open their windows to get fresh air, although this allowed thicker smoke from outside to come into the rooms.^[17] People below had to dodge shards of glass falling from the broken hotel windows.^[25]^[26]^[27] An expansion of the MGM was underway at the time of the fire, and a construction worker used a scaffolding platform to lower guests to the ground, after they had escaped through their hotel room windows.^[25] The Barbary Coast casino across the street was set up as an evacuation center for MGM guests.^[26]^[28]

Victims

A total of 85 people were killed, including 78 guests and 7 employees.^[19] Seventy-five people died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning; four from smoke inhalation alone; three from burns and smoke inhalation; one from burns alone; one of myocarditis;^[1] and one from massive skull trauma caused by a fall while attempting to escape the fire.^[29]^[30]^[31]

While the fire primarily damaged the casino floor, approximately 64 deaths occurred on the upper levels of the hotel (mostly from the 20th to 25th floors),^[1] where the smoke concentration was the highest.^[32] One young couple died in their sleep.^[33] Two refrigerated semi-trailers were set up as temporary morgues to hold the bodies of victims until they could be identified.^[34]

The number of injuries was reported as being around 600^[19] or more than 700.^[1] Approximately 35 firefighters sought medical care, and 15 of them were hospitalized for periods ranging from one day to two weeks. Between 200 and 300 firefighters also experienced dizziness, headaches, and rhinitis in the days after the fire, but did not seek medical attention.^[19]

Cause

The fire was confined to the casino and restaurant areas. The hotel was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system. The area with the most fire prevention was in the money counting area, not in individual rooms or on the casino floor.^[35] The county's fire chief had been concerned that such a fire could occur, as older hotels built prior to 1979 were not required to have certain fire safety features.^[26]^[36] Nevada governor Robert List said, "You can't force people to bring hotels up to codes that didn't exist when they were built."^[26] For years after its opening, the resort had declined orders to install a second fire hose in one of its showrooms. As of June 1980, only 20 percent of fire safety violations – discovered two months earlier by inspectors – had been corrected.^[37]

Electric fire

The fire was caused by an electrical ground fault inside a wall-mounted electrical receptacle.^[38]^[39]

A refrigerated pastry display case was added, after original construction of the hotel, to one of its restaurants (known as The Deli).^[35] Unlike a modern display case, which would be totally self-contained (compressor installed in bottom of display case), this unit functioned like a walk-in cooler or central air conditioning system, with a pair of copper refrigerant lines connecting its evaporator to a condensing unit located outside the building. When this set-up was installed, the copper lineset was run through the same wall soffit as a pre-existing electrical conduit and in physical contact with the conduit.^[6]

The fan-forced evaporator unit in the display case was not properly secured, and thus was able to vibrate constantly while in operation; these vibrations were carried along the copper refrigerant lines, causing the pipes to rub against the electrical conduit in the wall soffit and make them vibrate as well. Galvanic corrosion occurred, in which the copper refrigerant pipes were in physical contact with the aluminum electrical conduit, causing the conduit to erode over time. Galvanic corrosion and vibration – as well as jagged edges and stretched wires resulting from poor workmanship during the installation – eventually resulted in the electrical wires inside the conduit missing chunks of their plastic insulation. The conduit was rendered un-grounded (there was no separate ground wire; the metal conduit itself was designed to function as the ground, so the disintegration of the conduit rendered the system un-grounded).^[1]

These now-bare electrical conductors inside the un-grounded metal conduit glowed red-hot ^{[clarification needed]} and began arcing, which ignited the fire.^[1] The fire reportedly smoldered for hours until it found fresh oxygen and burst into a fireball that spread into the casino, and was fed by other combustibles.^[40]

Spread of smoke

Due to faulty smoke dampers within the ventilation duct network, the toxic fumes circulated throughout the hotel's air conditioning system, accelerating the spread of the poisonous gases.^[41] The continued operation of the resort's ventilation system contributed to the fire's harmful effect. On the casino floor, there was no outlet for the smoke, which was spread into the hotel tower by the ventilation system.^[26]^[42] Smoke rapidly filled the resort's telephone switchboard room, and operators there only had enough time to warn people on the casino floor. Hotel guests were not notified of the fire, as the switchboard operators had to evacuate.^[26] The elevator shafts were located above the restaurant and casino, which also helped the smoke to spread. Guests, who earlier had found that the fire doors in some stairwells locked automatically, had propped them open for convenience. However, this allowed more smoke to spread.^[40]^[26]^[43]

Sprinkler rule exceptions

Sprinklers were located on the first two floors and the top floor of the resort.^[44] The casino and restaurants were not protected by a fire sprinkler system because they were exempt from rules requiring sprinklers in areas occupied 24 hours a day.^[38] A Clark County building inspector granted the exemption—despite the opposition of fire marshals—reasoning that a fire would be quickly noticed by occupants and contained with portable fire extinguishers. When the fire started in The Deli restaurant, it was no longer open 24 hours per day; it was closed at the time of the fire. Although some sprinklers were in the resort, they were not located anywhere near the fire.^[45] A full sprinkler system would have cost $192,000.^[46] Because of the cost, MGM installed only the minimum number of sprinklers required by the building code at the time of the resort's construction.^[47]

Aftermath

The resort was temporarily closed because of the fire. Much of the damage occurred in the casino, which was charred by the fire. The hotel hallways and stairwells were stained by soot and smoke.^[48] Shortly after the fire, some people looted jewelry and blackened money from the resort.^[49] State gaming revenues were hurt by the MGM's closure, as the resort was one of the largest tax contributors to the local gaming industry.^[50] The county lost an estimated $1.7 million ($5.75 million in 2023) because of the closure,^[51] and it was estimated that MGM Grand Hotels could face a $1 billion loss because of the fire.^[52]

After the fire, the MGM Grand was rebuilt over the next eight months, at a cost of $50 million. It reopened in July 1981, with numerous fire safety features now in place,^[50]^[53]^[54] including the addition of fire sprinklers and an automatic fire alarm system throughout the property.^[55] A two-unit computer – one of them a backup – was provided by Johnson Controls to monitor hundreds of locations throughout the MGM, helping to prevent another fire. A similar computer had also been installed at another MGM Grand hotel in Reno, Nevada.^[44] The Las Vegas MGM now had more than 30,000 sprinklers, including four in most hotel rooms. The hotel also had 8,000 speakers, including one in each room, allowing for fire safety instructions to be provided to guests in the event of a fire.^[56]^[44]^[57]

The air-conditioning system was heavily modified to prevent smoke from entering hotel rooms, and large exhaust fans were installed, with the capability to rid the hotel of fumes in 10 minutes. Plastic pipes and wires, which contributed to the fire, were removed.^[58] A five-minute fire safety program, hosted by Gene Kelly in both English and Spanish, was played on televisions in hotel rooms.^[56]^[44]^[58] Resort officials believed that the MGM was now the safest hotel in the world.^[59] A minor incident occurred two weeks after the reopening, and the new safety features worked as planned. Insulation material had begun to smolder because of a welder's torch, and this set off automatic alarms.^[21]^[60]

The original hotel tower, where most of the deaths occurred, continues to operate, and is purported to be haunted by the fire victims.^[61] A second tower opened in 1981. The MGM Grand was sold in 1986 to Bally Manufacturing, which changed the name to Bally's Las Vegas. A new MGM Grand was opened in Las Vegas in 1993, at the northeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, south of the original MGM. Bally's was again renamed in 2022, as Horseshoe Las Vegas.^[62]

Code changes

Within a week of the fire, Governor List formed a commission to determine whether older hotels in the state should be required to adopt newer fire safety rules.^[63] On February 10, 1981, just 81 days after the MGM fire, another fire broke out at the Las Vegas Hilton, killing eight people.^[64]^[65] Due to the two incidents, there was a major reformation of fire safety guidelines and codes. All buildings open to the public in Nevada were required to have fire sprinklers, smoke detectors in rooms and elevators, and exit maps in all hotel rooms. This law went into effect in 1981 and made Nevada a leader in fire safety regulation.^[66]^[67]^[65] It took several years for all buildings to be in compliance.^[68]

Lawsuits

More than 1,350 legal claims were filed as a result of the fire, and most law firms in the Las Vegas Valley were occupied with these cases.^[69] Hundreds of lawsuits were filed against MGM, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.^[51]^[56] One attorney, representing three local couples against MGM, expressed concern about the reopening, saying that the resort still had defects which could prove harmful in the event of another fire.^[70] MGM made numerous settlement deals with the victims in 1983,^[71]^[72]^[73] and a $76 million settlement between MGM and insurance companies was made in 1985.^[74]^[75] In 1998, there was $440,000 left over in the MGM victim settlement. The remaining money was donated to Clark County victims of fires and burns.^[76]

References

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^ (Best & Demers 1982, p. vi)
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^ Wheaton, Daniel (November 21, 2022). "42 Years Ago: The MGM Fire of 1980 and the Air Force Response". Nellis Air Force Base.
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Bryan, John (1992). Human Behavior and Fire. In Arthur Cote (ed.) NFPA Handbook, Section 7, Chapter 1. Quincy MA: NFPA. ISBN 0-87765-378-X

External links

Online articles

"Fire at the MGM Grand". Fire Journal. January 1982.
Dickensheets, Scott; Schmidt, Amy (October 2000). "Burned Into Memory". Las Vegas Life. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008.
Morrison, Jane Ann (November 20, 2005). "With probe tapes safe, politicians felt heat long after MGM Grand fire". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.
Morrison, Jane Ann (November 20, 2005). "IN DEPTH: MGM GRAND HOTEL FIRE: 25 YEARS LATER: Incoming fire chief saw history as rookie". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.
Clarke, Norm (November 22, 2015). "Firefighter still chilled by MGM Grand blaze". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"10 historical hotel-casino fires on the Las Vegas Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 14, 2017.

Videos and audio

36°06′51″N 115°10′20″W / 36.11417°N 115.17222°W / 36.11417; -115.17222

[Clarke_County-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "MGM Fire Investigation Report" (PDF). Clark County Fire Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2014.

[2] Chrystal, Chris (January 12, 1987). "Hotel fires share tragic similarities". UPI. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.

[3] "Fire in the Bronx; The Century's Worst Fires". The New York Times. March 26, 1990. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.

[4] (Best & Demers 1982, p. vi)

[5] Puit, Glenn (November 19, 2000). "MGM Grand Fire: The Deadliest Day". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 18, 2006.

[:2-6] "Hotel Impossible's Anthony Melchiorri Revisits the MGM Grand Fire of Nov. 21, 1980". Naples Herald. November 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

[How-7] "How the MGM Grand fire started". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2000. Archived from the original on November 17, 2005.

[:0-8] "Survivors, witnesses describe chaos of MGM Grand fire". LasVegasSun.com. November 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

[Lessons-9] "Lessons from the Past: MGM Grand Fire". Firehouse. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

[10] "Copters Puli Guests Off Roof To Safety". Cincinnati Enquirer. November 22, 1980. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] "MGM Grand Fire: The Pilot". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 19, 2000. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006.

[12] Hensler, Bruce (November 20, 2020). "40 years later: Reflections on the Las Vegas MGM Grand hotel fire". FireRescue1.

[13] Wheaton, Daniel (November 21, 2022). "42 Years Ago: The MGM Fire of 1980 and the Air Force Response". Nellis Air Force Base.

[14] Puit, Glenn (November 19, 2000). "MGM Grand Fire: Horror can't be forgotten". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 18, 2006.

[15] Hopkins, Justin (November 21, 2017). "Nov. 21st marks anniversary of MGM fire". KLAS. Archived from the original on November 24, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

[:3-16] Craighead, Geoff (2009). High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety. Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-1856175555.

[Blackened-17] Chrystal, Chris (November 22, 1980). "Search teams returned to the blackened MGM Grand Hotel..." UPI. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.

[BestP26-18] (Best & Demers 1982, p. 26)

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@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 | participants             =
 | outcome                  =
-| reported deaths          ={{ubl|78 guests|7 employees}}
+| reported deaths          = 85 (78 guests, 7 employees)
-| reported injuries        ={{ubl|588 guests|25 employees|14 firefighters}}
+| reported injuries        = ~600–700+
 }}
-The '''MGM Grand fire''' occurred on Friday, November 21, 1980 at the [[MGM Grand Hotel and Casino]] (now Bally's Las Vegas), located on the [[Las Vegas Strip]] in [[Paradise, Nevada]]. The fire killed 85 people, most through [[smoke inhalation]].<ref name="Clarke_County"/> The fire began from a refrigerated pastry display case in one of the restaurants, located on the first floor. Fire engulfed the resort's casino, and smoke travelled into the hotel tower.
+The '''MGM Grand fire''' occurred on Friday, November 21, 1980, at the [[Horseshoe Las Vegas|MGM Grand Hotel and Casino]] (later Bally’s, now Horseshoe Las Vegas, and unrelated to the current [[MGM Grand Las Vegas]]), located on the [[Las Vegas Strip]] in [[Paradise, Nevada]]. The fire killed 85 people, most through [[smoke inhalation]].<ref name="Clarke_County"/> The fire began from a refrigerated pastry display case in one of the restaurants, located on the first floor. Fire engulfed the resort's casino, and smoke travelled into the hotel tower.
-The [[Tragedy (event)|tragedy]] remains the deadliest [[disaster]] in Nevada history, and the third-deadliest hotel fire in modern U.S. history, after the 1946 [[Winecoff Hotel fire]] in Atlanta that killed 119 people and the 1986 [[Dupont Plaza Hotel arson|Dupont Plaza Hotel fire]] in Puerto Rico that killed 97.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chrystal |first=Chris |title=Hotel fires share tragic similarities |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/12/Hotel-fires-share-tragic-similaritiesNEWLNHotel-fires-share-tragic-similarities/1998537426000/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=January 12, 1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fire in the Bronx; The Century's Worst Fires |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/26/nyregion/fire-in-the-bronx-the-century-s-worst-fires.html |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=March 26, 1990}}</ref> The incident led to the reformation of fire safety guidelines and codes in the state.
+The tragedy remains the deadliest disaster in Nevada history, and the third-deadliest hotel fire in modern U.S. history, after the 1946 [[Winecoff Hotel fire]] in Atlanta that killed 119 people and the 1986 [[Dupont Plaza Hotel arson|Dupont Plaza Hotel fire]] in Puerto Rico that killed 97.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chrystal |first=Chris |title=Hotel fires share tragic similarities |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/12/Hotel-fires-share-tragic-similaritiesNEWLNHotel-fires-share-tragic-similarities/1998537426000/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=January 12, 1987 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021131837/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/12/Hotel-fires-share-tragic-similaritiesNEWLNHotel-fires-share-tragic-similarities/1998537426000/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fire in the Bronx; The Century's Worst Fires |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/26/nyregion/fire-in-the-bronx-the-century-s-worst-fires.html |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=March 26, 1990 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023090706/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/26/nyregion/fire-in-the-bronx-the-century-s-worst-fires.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The incident led to the reformation of fire safety guidelines and codes in the state.
 ==Fire==
 [[File:MGM smoke.jpg|thumb|Looking east as smoke rises from the property]]
-At the time of the fire, about 5,000 people were in the MGM Grand, a casino and 26-story hotel with more than 2,000 hotel rooms that had opened in 1973.<ref>{{harv|Best|Demers|1982|p=vi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Puit |first=Glenn |title=MGM Grand Fire: The Deadliest Day |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14818667.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518121817/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14818667.html |archive-date=May 18, 2006}}</ref> At approximately 7:07&nbsp;a.m. on Friday, November 21, 1980, a fire began in a restaurant known as The Deli. The fire was discovered during an inspection of the restaurant by a tile crew. A crew supervisor noticed a flickering light, which turned out to be a wall of flames.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://naplesherald.com/2015/11/21/hotel-impossibles-anthony-melchiorri-revisits-the-mgm-grand-fire-of-nov-21-1980/|title=Hotel Impossible's Anthony Melchiorri Revisits the MGM Grand Fire of Nov. 21, 1980 |date=2015-11-21|work=Naples Herald|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=How>{{cite news |title=How the MGM Grand fire started |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/images/mgmfire/mgmfirebox1.jpg |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051117223655/http://www.reviewjournal.com/images/mgmfire/mgmfirebox1.jpg |archive-date=November 17, 2005}}</ref> An employee of the hotel's bakery recounted how just after 7 a.m. he saw smoke coming from the ceiling vents just before the lights went out.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/21/survivors-witnesses-describe-chaos-mgm-grand-fire/|title=Survivors, witnesses describe chaos of MGM Grand fire|date=2012-11-21|work=LasVegasSun.com|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en}}</ref> MGM security was immediately advised of the situation, and alerted the [[Clark County Fire Department (Nevada)|Clark County Fire Department]] (CCFD) which was the first agency to respond. CCFD received a call reporting the fire at 7:17 am, with the first engine arriving on site from across the street at 7:19 am.<ref name=How/><ref name=Lessons/> A third alarm was called at 7:22 am, and a [[Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department|Metro Police]] helicopter pilot requested all available helicopters at 7:30 am.<ref name=Lessons>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firehouse.com/prevention-investigation/article/10465399/lessons-from-the-past-mgm-grand-fire|title=Lessons from the Past: MGM Grand Fire|work=Firehouse|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en}}</ref>
+At the time of the fire, about 5,000 people were in the MGM Grand, a casino and 26-story hotel with more than 2,000 hotel rooms that had opened in 1973.<ref>{{harv|Best|Demers|1982|p=vi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Puit |first=Glenn |title=MGM Grand Fire: The Deadliest Day |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14818667.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518121817/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14818667.html |archive-date=May 18, 2006}}</ref> At approximately 7:07&nbsp;a.m. on Friday, November 21, 1980, a fire began in a restaurant known as The Deli. The fire was discovered during an inspection of the restaurant by a tile crew. A crew supervisor noticed a flickering light, which turned out to be a wall of flames.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://naplesherald.com/2015/11/21/hotel-impossibles-anthony-melchiorri-revisits-the-mgm-grand-fire-of-nov-21-1980/|title=Hotel Impossible's Anthony Melchiorri Revisits the MGM Grand Fire of Nov. 21, 1980 |date=2015-11-21|work=Naples Herald|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002408/http://naplesherald.com/2015/11/21/hotel-impossibles-anthony-melchiorri-revisits-the-mgm-grand-fire-of-nov-21-1980/ |archive-date=2018-08-31}}</ref><ref name=How>{{cite news |title=How the MGM Grand fire started |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/images/mgmfire/mgmfirebox1.jpg |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051117223655/http://www.reviewjournal.com/images/mgmfire/mgmfirebox1.jpg |archive-date=November 17, 2005}}</ref> An employee of the hotel's bakery recounted how just after 7 a.m. he saw smoke coming from the ceiling vents just before the lights went out.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/21/survivors-witnesses-describe-chaos-mgm-grand-fire/|title=Survivors, witnesses describe chaos of MGM Grand fire|date=2012-11-21|work=LasVegasSun.com|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en|archive-date=August 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830210230/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/21/survivors-witnesses-describe-chaos-mgm-grand-fire/|url-status=live}}</ref> MGM security was immediately advised of the situation, and alerted the [[Clark County Fire Department (Nevada)|Clark County Fire Department]] (CCFD) which was the first agency to respond. CCFD received a call reporting the fire at 7:17 a.m., with the first engine arriving on site from across the street at 7:19 a.m.<ref name=How/><ref name=Lessons/> A third alarm was called at 7:22 am, and a [[Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department|Metro Police]] helicopter pilot requested all available helicopters at 7:30 a.m.<ref name=Lessons>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firehouse.com/prevention-investigation/article/10465399/lessons-from-the-past-mgm-grand-fire|title=Lessons from the Past: MGM Grand Fire|work=Firehouse|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en|archive-date=April 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429155602/https://www.firehouse.com/community-risk/community-risk-reduction/article/10465399/lessons-from-the-past-mgm-grand-fire|url-status=live}}</ref>
-Other agencies included the [[North Las Vegas Fire Department]], [[Las Vegas Fire & Rescue]], and the [[Henderson Fire Department]]. A massive helicopter rescue effort from [[Nellis Air Force Base]] pulled 1,000 people from the roof of the MGM Grand,<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Copters Puli Guests Off Roof To Safety |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/101632712/ |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 22, 1980 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Fire: The Pilot |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14835965.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112030203/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14835965.html |archive-date=January 12, 2006}}</ref> involving both [[U.S. Air Force]] [[Bell UH-1N Twin Huey|UH-1N]] (Hueys) from the [[57th Wing]] based in [[Indian Springs, Nevada|Indian Springs]] and [[Sikorsky S-61R|CH-3E]] (Jolly Green Giants) from the [[1st Special Operations Wing]] based in [[Hurlburt Field]], Florida (which were in Nevada to participate in [[Exercise Red Flag|Red Flag]] '80).{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
+Other agencies included the [[North Las Vegas Fire Department]], [[Las Vegas Fire & Rescue]], and the [[Henderson Fire Department]]. A massive helicopter rescue effort from [[Nellis Air Force Base]] pulled 1,000 people from the roof of the MGM Grand,<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Copters Puli Guests Off Roof To Safety |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/101632712/ |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 22, 1980 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017171503/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/101632712/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Fire: The Pilot |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14835965.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112030203/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14835965.html |archive-date=January 12, 2006}}</ref> involving both [[U.S. Air Force]] [[Bell UH-1N Twin Huey|UH-1N]] (Hueys) from the [[57th Wing]] based in [[Indian Springs, Nevada|Indian Springs]] and [[Sikorsky S-61R|CH-3E]] (Jolly Green Giants) from the [[1st Special Operations Wing]] based in [[Hurlburt Field]], Florida (which were in Nevada to participate in [[Exercise Red Flag|Red Flag]] '80).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hensler |first1=Bruce |title=40 years later: Reflections on the Las Vegas MGM Grand hotel fire |url=https://www.firerescue1.com/high-rise/articles/40-years-later-reflections-on-the-las-vegas-mgm-grand-hotel-fire-4Iu1HhvGMQgBHicF/ |website=[[FireRescue1]] |date=20 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wheaton |first1=Daniel |title=42 Years Ago: The MGM Fire of 1980 and the Air Force Response |url=https://www.nellis.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3225337/42-years-ago-the-mgm-fire-of-1980-and-the-air-force-response/ |website=[[Nellis Air Force Base]] |date=21 November 2022}}</ref>
-The fire spread to the lobby, fed by [[wallpaper]], [[Plastic piping|PVC piping]], glue, and plastic mirrors, racing west through the casino floor at a speed of {{convert|15|-|19|ft/s|m/s mph km/h|abbr=on}} until a massive fireball blew out the main entrance, facing the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. From the time the fire was noticed, it took six minutes for the entire casino floor to be fully engulfed.<ref name=How/><ref>{{cite news |last=Puit |first=Glenn |title=MGM Grand Fire: Horror can't be forgotten |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14842491.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518121844/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14842491.html |archive-date=May 18, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/nov-21st-marks-anniversary-of-mgm-fire/861412645|title=Nov. 21st marks anniversary of MGM fire|last=Hopkins|first=Justin|date=2017-11-21|work=KLAS|access-date=2018-08-30}}</ref> It spread across the areas of the casino in which no [[fire sprinkler]]s were installed. Eighteen people died in the casino level of the hotel.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety|last=Craighead|first=Geoff|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann|year=2009|isbn=978-1856175555}}</ref>
+The fire spread to the lobby, fed by [[wallpaper]], [[Plastic piping|PVC piping]], glue, and plastic mirrors, racing west through the casino floor at a speed of {{convert|15|-|19|ft/s|m/s mph km/h|abbr=on}} until a massive fireball blew out the main entrance, facing the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. From the time the fire was noticed, it took six minutes for the entire casino floor to be fully engulfed.<ref name=How/><ref>{{cite news |last=Puit |first=Glenn |title=MGM Grand Fire: Horror can't be forgotten |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14842491.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518121844/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14842491.html |archive-date=May 18, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/nov-21st-marks-anniversary-of-mgm-fire/861412645|title=Nov. 21st marks anniversary of MGM fire|last=Hopkins|first=Justin|date=2017-11-21|work=KLAS|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=November 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124124753/http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/nov-21st-marks-anniversary-of-mgm-fire/861412645|url-status=live}}</ref> It spread across the areas of the casino in which no [[fire sprinkler]]s were installed. Eighteen people died in the casino level of the hotel.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety|last=Craighead|first=Geoff|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann|year=2009|isbn=978-1856175555}}</ref>
 [[File:A flight engineer straps a survivor onto a forest penetrator of a hovering CH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter. The airman is a 302nd Special Operations Squadron member rescuing gues - DPLA - a2ce970b516db01a71500e772152f116.jpeg|thumb|right|220px|Survivors were evacuated by helicopter]]
-The fire was limited to the first floor,<ref name=Blackened>{{cite news |last=Chrystal |first=Chris |title=Search teams returned to the blackened MGM Grand Hotel... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Search-teams-returned-to-the-blackened-MGM-Grand-Hotel/4032343717200/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=UPI |date=November 22, 1980}}</ref> but the burning material created toxic fumes and smoke, which ascended throughout the hotel tower via vertical shafts (elevators and stairwells) and [[Earthquake engineering|seismic joints]], causing the majority of the deaths.<ref name="BestP26">{{harv|Best|Demers|1982|p=26}}</ref> More than 200 firefighters responded to the fire,<ref name=40Years>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Shea |title='Hell on Earth': 40 years ago, a historic fire at the MGM Grand |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/hell-on-earth-40-years-ago-a-historic-fire-at-the-mgm-grand-2181965/ |access-date=April 23, 2021 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> and some reported having to crawl through the dark and over "mounds of stuff" trying to extinguish the fire. It was later determined that the "mounds" were deceased guests and staff near an elevator bank.<ref name=":2" /> The Las Vegas fire department operated separately from the county fire department; the latter served the Las Vegas Strip, so city firefighters were unfamiliar with the MGM's layout, including fire escape routes. This hindered the rescue effort.<ref>{{cite news |title=Las Vegas Chief Says Firemen Didn't Know Hotel's Layout |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139659118/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=United Press International |date=November 24, 1980 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
+The fire was limited to the first floor,<ref name=Blackened>{{cite news |last=Chrystal |first=Chris |title=Search teams returned to the blackened MGM Grand Hotel... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Search-teams-returned-to-the-blackened-MGM-Grand-Hotel/4032343717200/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=UPI |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101082927/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Search-teams-returned-to-the-blackened-MGM-Grand-Hotel/4032343717200/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but the burning material created toxic fumes and smoke, which ascended throughout the hotel tower via vertical shafts (elevators and stairwells) and [[Earthquake engineering|seismic joints]], causing the majority of the deaths.<ref name="BestP26">{{harv|Best|Demers|1982|p=26}}</ref> Approximately 350 firefighters responded to the fire,<ref name=NFPA/> and some reported having to crawl through the dark and over "mounds of stuff" trying to extinguish the fire. It was later determined that the "mounds" were deceased guests and staff near an elevator bank.<ref name=":2" /> The Las Vegas fire department operated separately from the county fire department; the latter served the Las Vegas Strip, so city firefighters were unfamiliar with the MGM's layout, including fire escape routes. This hindered the rescue effort.<ref>{{cite news |title=Las Vegas Chief Says Firemen Didn't Know Hotel's Layout |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139659118/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=United Press International |date=November 24, 1980 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104083326/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139659118/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Proper evacuation of the hotel guests was also hindered as there was no automatic means of returning elevators to the main floor during a fire, causing 10 deceased victims to be found in an elevator.<ref name=":3" /> Some hotel guests tied bedsheets together and hung them on balconies to alert first responders. Some tried using the bedsheets to descend the hotel's exterior.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Heroes>{{cite news |last=Toplikar |first=Dave |title='They were absolutely heroes': The MGM Grand fire and the men who fought it |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/21/they-were-absolutely-heroes-mgm-grand-fire-and-men/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 21, 2012}}</ref> Fire ladders were only able to reach the ninth-floor exterior.<ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Burns |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/22/mgm-burns/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 22, 1980}}</ref> One man escaped the hotel tower by lowering himself down a rope.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man tells of how rope saved him from blazing hotel |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Man-tells-of-how-rope-saved-him-from-blazing-hotel/1851343717200/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=November 22, 1980}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Norm |title=Cowboy survived MGM Grand fire |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/cowboy-survived-mgm-grand-fire/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 21, 2010}}</ref>
+Proper evacuation of the hotel guests was also hindered as there was no automatic means of returning elevators to the main floor during a fire, causing 10 deceased victims to be found in an elevator.<ref name=":3" /> Some hotel guests tied bedsheets together and hung them on balconies to alert first responders. Some tried using the bedsheets to descend the hotel's exterior.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Heroes>{{cite news |last=Toplikar |first=Dave |title='They were absolutely heroes': The MGM Grand fire and the men who fought it |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/21/they-were-absolutely-heroes-mgm-grand-fire-and-men/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 21, 2012 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025747/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/21/they-were-absolutely-heroes-mgm-grand-fire-and-men/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Fire ladders were only able to reach the ninth-floor exterior.<ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Burns |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/22/mgm-burns/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920004702/http://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/22/mgm-burns/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One man escaped the hotel tower by lowering himself down a rope.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man tells of how rope saved him from blazing hotel |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Man-tells-of-how-rope-saved-him-from-blazing-hotel/1851343717200/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021182108/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Man-tells-of-how-rope-saved-him-from-blazing-hotel/1851343717200/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Norm |title=Cowboy survived MGM Grand fire |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/cowboy-survived-mgm-grand-fire/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 21, 2010 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023095320/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/cowboy-survived-mgm-grand-fire/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 Some people, trapped in their hotel rooms, broke open their windows to get fresh air, although this allowed thicker smoke from outside to come into the rooms.<ref name=Blackened/> People below had to dodge shards of glass falling from the broken hotel windows.<ref name=Scripps/><ref name=UPI>{{cite news |last=Arnett |first=Peter |title=How It Happened: Fire Got Lots of Help From People |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire5.pdf |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=November 23, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112031756/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire5.pdf |archive-date=November 12, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Fire: The Paramedic |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14837782.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112025710/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14837782.html |archive-date=January 12, 2006}}</ref> An expansion of the MGM was underway at the time of the fire, and a construction worker used a [[scaffolding]] platform to lower guests to the ground, after they had escaped through their hotel room windows.<ref name=Scripps>{{cite news |last=Scripps |first=Cynthia |title=MGM Hotel Rescuer Unidentified |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire2.pdf |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |agency=United Press International |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103054134/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire2.pdf |archive-date=January 3, 2006}}</ref> The [[The Cromwell Las Vegas|Barbary Coast]] casino across the street was set up as an evacuation center for MGM guests.<ref name=UPI/><ref>{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Norm |title=Fire brought out city's human side |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14847182.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 19, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112025733/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14847182.html |archive-date=January 12, 2006}}</ref>
 === Victims ===
+A total of 85 people were killed, including 78 guests and 7 employees.<ref name=NFPA>{{cite web|last1=Best|first1=Richard|last2=Demers|first2=David P.|title=Investigation report on the MGM Grand hotel fire|url=http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/Files/Press%20Room/lasvegasmgmgrand.pdf|publisher=National Fire Protection Association|date=January 15, 1982 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123111117/http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/Files/Press%20Room/lasvegasmgmgrand.pdf|archive-date=January 23, 2015 |pages=26–27}}</ref> Seventy-five people died from smoke inhalation and [[carbon monoxide poisoning]]; four from smoke inhalation alone; three from burns and smoke inhalation; one from burns alone; one of [[myocarditis]];<ref name="Clarke_County"/> and one from massive skull trauma caused by a fall while attempting to escape the fire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broderick |first=Chris |date=November 15, 1981 |title=First firefighters saw ball of flame engulf casino |url= |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Palermo |first=Dave |date=November 18, 1990 |title=A decade ago, luxurious MGM turned into a fiery coffin |url= |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dent |first=Mark |date=November 23, 1980 |title=Dreams shattered by blaze |url= |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |location= |access-date=}}</ref>
-A total of 85 people were killed (including seven employees) and 650 injured, including guests, employees, and 14 firefighters.<ref name="Clarke_County"/> While the fire primarily damaged the second-floor casino and adjacent restaurants, 61 deaths were on the upper floors of the hotel (19th - 24th floors), mostly in the stairwells, where all doors except on the roof and ground floor were locked and the smoke concentration was the highest.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sumka|first=E.H|date=1990s|title=Presently, Elevators are not Safe in Fire Emergencies|url=http://www.aivc.org/sites/default/files/airbase_3910.pdf|journal=Advisory Engineer, Codes and Product Application, Westinghouse Elevator Co.|pages=79–82}}</ref> One young couple died in their sleep.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rusin |first=Mark |title=Officer recalls eerie scene at burned hotel |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4304861.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013201824/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4304861.html |archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref>
+While the fire primarily damaged the casino floor, approximately 64 deaths occurred on the upper levels of the hotel (mostly from the 20th to 25th floors),<ref name="Clarke_County"/> where the smoke concentration was the highest.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sumka|first=E.H|date=1990s|title=Presently, Elevators are not Safe in Fire Emergencies|url=http://www.aivc.org/sites/default/files/airbase_3910.pdf|journal=Advisory Engineer, Codes and Product Application, Westinghouse Elevator Co.|pages=79–82|access-date=August 30, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417044630/http://www.aivc.org/sites/default/files/airbase_3910.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> One young couple died in their sleep.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rusin |first=Mark |title=Officer recalls eerie scene at burned hotel |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4304861.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013201824/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4304861.html |archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref> Two refrigerated semi-trailers were set up as temporary morgues to hold the bodies of victims until they could be identified.<ref>{{cite news |title=Makeshift Morgue Pressed Into Service |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire3.pdf |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206150209/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire3.pdf |archive-date=December 6, 2003}}</ref>
-Seventy-five people died from smoke inhalation and [[carbon monoxide poisoning]]; four from smoke inhalation alone; three from burns and smoke inhalation; one from burns alone; one of [[myocarditis]];<ref name="Clarke_County"/> and one from massive skull trauma caused by a fall while attempting to escape the fire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broderick |first=Chris |date=November 15, 1981 |title=First firefighters saw ball of flame engulf casino |url= |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Palermo |first=Dave |date=November 18, 1990 |title=A decade ago, luxurious MGM turned into a fiery coffin |url= |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dent |first=Mark |date=November 23, 1980 |title=Dreams shattered by blaze |url= |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |location= |access-date=}}</ref>
+The number of injuries was reported as being around 600<ref name=NFPA/> or more than 700.<ref name="Clarke_County"/> Approximately 35 firefighters sought medical care, and 15 of them were hospitalized for periods ranging from one day to two weeks. Between 200 and 300 firefighters also experienced dizziness, headaches, and [[rhinitis]] in the days after the fire, but did not seek medical attention.<ref name=NFPA/>
-Two refrigerated semi-trailers were set up as temporary morgues to hold the bodies of victims until they could be identified.<ref>{{cite news |title=Makeshift Morgue Pressed Into Service |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire3.pdf |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206150209/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire3.pdf |archive-date=December 6, 2003}}</ref>
 ==Cause==
-The fire was confined to the casino and restaurant areas. The hotel was equipped with a fire sprinkler system that performed properly by keeping the fire out of other sections of the building. The area with the most fire prevention was in the money counting area, not in individual rooms or on the casino floor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ranker.com/list/las-vegas-mgm-grand-fire-facts/rachel-souerbry|title=The MGM Grand Had So Many Construction Flaws That 85 People Died When A Fire Broke Out In The Casino|work=Ranker|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en}}</ref> The county's fire chief had been concerned that such a fire could occur, as older hotels built prior to 1979 were not required to have certain fire safety features.<ref name=UPI/><ref>{{cite news |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Tom |title=Las Vegas a town of no pity or shame |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire4.pdf |work=Arizona Republic |date=December 3, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414035749/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire4.pdf |archive-date=April 14, 2004}}</ref> Nevada governor [[Robert List]] said, "You can't force people to bring hotels up to codes that didn't exist when they were built."<ref name=UPI/> For years after its opening, the resort had declined orders to install a second fire hose in one of its showrooms. As of June 1980, only 20 percent of fire safety violations – discovered two months earlier by inspectors – had been corrected.<ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Hotel Ignored Hose Order |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/399448753/ |work=The Atlanta Constitution |date=November 25, 1980 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
+The fire was confined to the casino and restaurant areas. The hotel was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system. The area with the most fire prevention was in the money counting area, not in individual rooms or on the casino floor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ranker.com/list/las-vegas-mgm-grand-fire-facts/rachel-souerbry|title=The MGM Grand Had So Many Construction Flaws That 85 People Died When A Fire Broke Out In The Casino|work=Ranker|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en|archive-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002443/https://www.ranker.com/list/las-vegas-mgm-grand-fire-facts/rachel-souerbry|url-status=live}}</ref> The county's fire chief had been concerned that such a fire could occur, as older hotels built prior to 1979 were not required to have certain fire safety features.<ref name=UPI/><ref>{{cite news |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Tom |title=Las Vegas a town of no pity or shame |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire4.pdf |work=Arizona Republic |date=December 3, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414035749/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire4.pdf |archive-date=April 14, 2004}}</ref> Nevada governor [[Robert List]] said, "You can't force people to bring hotels up to codes that didn't exist when they were built."<ref name=UPI/> For years after its opening, the resort had declined orders to install a second fire hose in one of its showrooms. As of June 1980, only 20 percent of fire safety violations – discovered two months earlier by inspectors – had been corrected.<ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Hotel Ignored Hose Order |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/399448753/ |work=The Atlanta Constitution |date=November 25, 1980 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031045249/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/399448753/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 === Electric fire ===
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 A refrigerated pastry display case was added, after original construction of the hotel, to one of its restaurants (known as The Deli).<ref name=":1" /> Unlike a modern display case, which would be totally self-contained (compressor installed in bottom of display case), this unit functioned like a walk-in cooler or central air conditioning system, with a pair of copper refrigerant lines connecting its evaporator to a condensing unit located outside the building. When this set-up was installed, the copper lineset was run through the same wall [[soffit]] as a pre-existing [[electrical conduit]] and in physical contact with the conduit.<ref name=":2" />
-The fan-forced evaporator unit in the display case was not properly secured, and thus was able to vibrate constantly while in operation; these vibrations were carried along the copper [[refrigerant]] lines, causing the pipes to rub against the electrical conduit in the wall soffit and make them vibrate as well. [[Galvanic corrosion]] occurred, in which the copper refrigerant pipes were in physical contact with the aluminum [[electrical conduit]], causing the conduit to erode over time. Galvanic corrosion and vibration – as well as jagged edges and stretched wires resulting from poor workmanship during the installation – eventually resulted in the electrical wires inside the conduit missing chunks of their plastic insulation. The conduit was rendered un-grounded (there was no separate [[Ground (electricity)|ground wire]]; the metal conduit itself was designed to function as the ground, so the disintegration of the conduit rendered the system un-grounded).{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
+The fan-forced evaporator unit in the display case was not properly secured, and thus was able to vibrate constantly while in operation; these vibrations were carried along the copper [[refrigerant]] lines, causing the pipes to rub against the electrical conduit in the wall soffit and make them vibrate as well. [[Galvanic corrosion]] occurred, in which the copper refrigerant pipes were in physical contact with the aluminum [[electrical conduit]], causing the conduit to erode over time. Galvanic corrosion and vibration – as well as jagged edges and stretched wires resulting from poor workmanship during the installation – eventually resulted in the electrical wires inside the conduit missing chunks of their plastic insulation. The conduit was rendered un-grounded (there was no separate [[Ground (electricity)|ground wire]]; the metal conduit itself was designed to function as the ground, so the disintegration of the conduit rendered the system un-grounded).<ref name="Clarke_County"/>
-These now-bare electrical conductors inside the un-grounded metal conduit glowed red-hot and began arcing, which ignited the fire.<ref name="Clarke_County">{{cite web|url=http://fire.co.clark.nv.us/(S(gtgop1ers1xz2gkadvhp1w1u))/Files/pdfs/MGM_FIRE.pdf|title=MGM Fire Investigation Report|publisher=Clark County Fire Department|accessdate=August 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109190735/http://fire.co.clark.nv.us/%28S%28gtgop1ers1xz2gkadvhp1w1u%29%29/Files/pdfs/MGM_FIRE.pdf|archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref> The fire reportedly smoldered for hours until it found fresh oxygen and burst into a fireball that spread into the casino, and was fed by other combustibles.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Egress Design Solutions: A Guide to Evacuation and Crowd Management Planning|last1=Tubbs|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Meacham|first2=Brian|publisher=Wiley|year=2007|isbn=978-0471719564|pages=74–76}}</ref>
+These now-bare electrical conductors inside the un-grounded metal conduit glowed red-hot {{Clarify|reason=Clarification needed to explain why wires were glowing red hot. A missing ground connection would not cause over current. Was there also/actually some other electric fault, or was the circuit breaker / fuses too large for the wire gauge and length to trip if wires were to short circuit to the line set (which would be grounded by the compressor in the outdoor refrigeration unit)|date=June 2023}} and began arcing, which ignited the fire.<ref name="Clarke_County">{{cite web|url=http://fire.co.clark.nv.us/(S(gtgop1ers1xz2gkadvhp1w1u))/Files/pdfs/MGM_FIRE.pdf|title=MGM Fire Investigation Report|publisher=Clark County Fire Department|accessdate=August 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109190735/http://fire.co.clark.nv.us/%28S%28gtgop1ers1xz2gkadvhp1w1u%29%29/Files/pdfs/MGM_FIRE.pdf|archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref> The fire reportedly smoldered for hours until it found fresh oxygen and burst into a fireball that spread into the casino, and was fed by other combustibles.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Egress Design Solutions: A Guide to Evacuation and Crowd Management Planning|last1=Tubbs|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Meacham|first2=Brian|publisher=Wiley|year=2007|isbn=978-0471719564|pages=74–76}}</ref>
 === Spread of smoke ===
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ==Sprinkler rule exceptions==
-Sprinklers were located on the first two floors and the top floor of the resort.<ref name=Even/> The casino and restaurants were not protected by a [[fire sprinkler system]] because they were exempt from rules requiring sprinklers in areas occupied 24 hours a day.<ref name="Giesler2016"/> A [[Clark County, Nevada|Clark County]] building inspector granted the exemption—despite the opposition of [[fire marshal]]s—reasoning that a fire would be quickly noticed by occupants and contained with portable [[fire extinguisher]]s. When the fire started in The Deli restaurant, it was no longer open 24 hours per day; it was closed at the time of the fire. Although some sprinklers were in the resort, they were not located anywhere near the fire.<ref name=morrison>{{cite news|last=Morrison|first=Jane Ann|title=IN DEPTH: MGM GRAND HOTEL FIRE: 25 YEARS LATER: Disaster didn't have to be|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4306613.html|accessdate=August 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013202205/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4306613.html|archive-date=October 13, 2012|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 20, 2005}}</ref> A full sprinkler system would have cost $192,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morrison |first=Jane Ann |title=Another November event had lasting impact in Las Vegas |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/jane-ann-morrison/another-november-event-had-lasting-impact-in-las-vegas/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 23, 2013}}</ref> Because of the cost, MGM only installed the minimum number of sprinklers as required, during the resort's construction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodyard |first=Chris |title=MGM Nixed Improved Sprinkler System in '73 |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/23/mgm-nixed-improved-sprinkler-system-73/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 23, 1980}}</ref>
+Sprinklers were located on the first two floors and the top floor of the resort.<ref name=Even/> The casino and restaurants were not protected by a [[fire sprinkler system]] because they were exempt from rules requiring sprinklers in areas occupied 24 hours a day.<ref name="Giesler2016"/> A [[Clark County, Nevada|Clark County]] building inspector granted the exemption—despite the opposition of [[fire marshal]]s—reasoning that a fire would be quickly noticed by occupants and contained with portable [[fire extinguisher]]s. When the fire started in The Deli restaurant, it was no longer open 24 hours per day; it was closed at the time of the fire. Although some sprinklers were in the resort, they were not located anywhere near the fire.<ref name=morrison>{{cite news|last=Morrison|first=Jane Ann|title=IN DEPTH: MGM GRAND HOTEL FIRE: 25 YEARS LATER: Disaster didn't have to be|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4306613.html|accessdate=August 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013202205/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-20-Sun-2005/news/4306613.html|archive-date=October 13, 2012|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 20, 2005}}</ref> A full sprinkler system would have cost $192,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morrison |first=Jane Ann |title=Another November event had lasting impact in Las Vegas |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/jane-ann-morrison/another-november-event-had-lasting-impact-in-las-vegas/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022084653/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/jane-ann-morrison/another-november-event-had-lasting-impact-in-las-vegas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Because of the cost, MGM installed only the minimum number of sprinklers required by the building code at the time of the resort's construction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodyard |first=Chris |title=MGM Nixed Improved Sprinkler System in '73 |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/23/mgm-nixed-improved-sprinkler-system-73/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 23, 1980 |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614202615/https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/23/mgm-nixed-improved-sprinkler-system-73/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 ==Aftermath==
-The resort was temporarily closed because of the fire. Much of the damage occurred in the casino, which was charred by the fire. The hotel hallways and stairwells were stained by [[soot]] and smoke.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broderick |first=Chris |title=And Now It's Rubble |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire6.pdf |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 23, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103043817/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire6.pdf |archive-date=January 3, 2006}}</ref> Shortly after the fire, some people looted jewelry and blackened money from the resort.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chrystal |first=Chris |title=Looters strike after MGM fire; extortion threats on other casinos |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Looters-strike-after-MGM-fire-extortion-threats-on-other-casinos/9205343717200/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=UPI |date=November 22, 1980}}</ref> State gaming revenues were hurt by the MGM's closure, as the resort was one of the largest tax contributors to the local gaming industry.<ref name=Sell-Out>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Opens with Sell-Out |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/516654966/ |work=Arizona Daily Sun |agency=United Press International |date=July 29, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The county lost an estimated $1.7 million because of the closure,<ref name=Foo>{{cite news |last=Foo |first=Rodney |title=Vegas MGM quietly reopens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149281234/ |work=Reno Evening Gazette |date=July 29, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and it was estimated that MGM Grand Hotels could face a $1 billion loss because of the fire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hevener |first=Phil |title=MGM Fire May Mean Billion-Dollar Loss |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/23/mgm-fire-may-mean-billion-dollar-loss/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 23, 1980}}</ref>
+The resort was temporarily closed because of the fire. Much of the damage occurred in the casino, which was charred by the fire. The hotel hallways and stairwells were stained by [[soot]] and smoke.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broderick |first=Chris |title=And Now It's Rubble |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire6.pdf |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 23, 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103043817/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mgmfire/fire6.pdf |archive-date=January 3, 2006}}</ref> Shortly after the fire, some people looted jewelry and blackened money from the resort.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chrystal |first=Chris |title=Looters strike after MGM fire; extortion threats on other casinos |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Looters-strike-after-MGM-fire-extortion-threats-on-other-casinos/9205343717200/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=UPI |date=November 22, 1980 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031044509/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/22/Looters-strike-after-MGM-fire-extortion-threats-on-other-casinos/9205343717200/ |url-status=live }}</ref> State gaming revenues were hurt by the MGM's closure, as the resort was one of the largest tax contributors to the local gaming industry.<ref name=Sell-Out>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Opens with Sell-Out |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/516654966/ |work=Arizona Daily Sun |agency=United Press International |date=July 29, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122135909/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/516654966/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The county lost an estimated $1.7 million ($5.75 million in 2023) because of the closure,<ref name=Foo>{{cite news |last=Foo |first=Rodney |title=Vegas MGM quietly reopens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149281234/ |work=Reno Evening Gazette |date=July 29, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122134053/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149281234/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and it was estimated that MGM Grand Hotels could face a $1 billion loss because of the fire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hevener |first=Phil |title=MGM Fire May Mean Billion-Dollar Loss |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/23/mgm-fire-may-mean-billion-dollar-loss/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 23, 1980 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407013949/https://lasvegassun.com/news/1980/nov/23/mgm-fire-may-mean-billion-dollar-loss/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-After the fire, the MGM Grand was rebuilt over the next eight months, at a cost of $50 million. It reopened in July 1981, with numerous fire safety features now in place,<ref name=Sell-Out/><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Opens Its Doors After Remodeling from Fire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446912998/ |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Oberding2013">{{cite book|author=Janice Oberding|title=Haunted Nevada: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Silver State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=69-3DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA89|date=August 11, 2013|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0-8117-5295-4|pages=89–}}</ref> including the addition of fire sprinklers and an automatic [[fire alarm system]] throughout the property.<ref name="Enterprise1981">{{cite journal|author=IDG Enterprise|title=Computerworld|journal=Computerworld: The Newspaper for IT Leaders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FN6d3fuFnLQC&pg=PA46|date=March 30, 1981|publisher=IDG Enterprise|pages=46–|issn=0010-4841}}</ref> A two-unit computer – one of them a backup – was provided by [[Johnson Controls]] to monitor hundreds of locations throughout the MGM, helping to prevent another fire. A similar computer had also been installed at another [[Grand Sierra Resort|MGM Grand]] hotel in [[Reno, Nevada]].<ref name=Even>{{cite news |title=Even 35,000 sprinklers talk to MGM computer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149289448/ |work=Reno Evening Gazette |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Las Vegas MGM now had more than 30,000 sprinklers, including four in most hotel rooms. The hotel also had 8,000 speakers, including one in each room, allowing for fire safety instructions to be provided to guests in the event of a fire.<ref name=Eichel>{{cite news |last=Eichel |first=Larry |title=MGM Grand Hotel reopens to full house |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173859488/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=Even/><ref>{{cite news |title=Computers monitor MGM Grand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63500422/ |work=The San Bernardino Sun |agency=Associated Press |date=July 2, 1981 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
+After the fire, the MGM Grand was rebuilt over the next eight months, at a cost of $50 million. It reopened in July 1981, with numerous fire safety features now in place,<ref name=Sell-Out/><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand Opens Its Doors After Remodeling from Fire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446912998/ |work=Santa Maria Times |agency=Associated Press |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015233025/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446912998/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Oberding2013">{{cite book|author=Janice Oberding|title=Haunted Nevada: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Silver State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=69-3DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA89|date=August 11, 2013|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0-8117-5295-4|pages=89–}}</ref> including the addition of fire sprinklers and an automatic [[fire alarm system]] throughout the property.<ref name="Enterprise1981">{{cite journal|author=IDG Enterprise|title=Computerworld|journal=Computerworld: The Newspaper for IT Leaders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FN6d3fuFnLQC&pg=PA46|date=March 30, 1981|publisher=IDG Enterprise|pages=46–|issn=0010-4841}}</ref> A two-unit computer – one of them a backup – was provided by [[Johnson Controls]] to monitor hundreds of locations throughout the MGM, helping to prevent another fire. A similar computer had also been installed at another [[Grand Sierra Resort|MGM Grand]] hotel in [[Reno, Nevada]].<ref name=Even>{{cite news |title=Even 35,000 sprinklers talk to MGM computer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149289448/ |work=Reno Evening Gazette |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019223442/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149289448/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Las Vegas MGM now had more than 30,000 sprinklers, including four in most hotel rooms. The hotel also had 8,000 speakers, including one in each room, allowing for fire safety instructions to be provided to guests in the event of a fire.<ref name=Eichel>{{cite news |last=Eichel |first=Larry |title=MGM Grand Hotel reopens to full house |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173859488/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017043536/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173859488/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Even/><ref>{{cite news |title=Computers monitor MGM Grand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63500422/ |work=The San Bernardino Sun |agency=Associated Press |date=July 2, 1981 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102035427/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63500422/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 [[File:Ballys Vegas Nima.JPG|thumb|The original MGM tower, seen in 2008 as part of Bally's]]
-The air-conditioning system was heavily modified to prevent smoke from entering hotel rooms, and large exhaust fans were installed, with the capability to rid the hotel of fumes in 10 minutes. Plastic pipes and wires, which contributed to the fire, were removed.<ref name=LAT>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand: Opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/387471746/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> A five-minute fire safety program, hosted by [[Gene Kelly]] in both English and Spanish, was played on televisions in hotel rooms.<ref name=Eichel/><ref name=Even/><ref name=LAT/> Resort officials believed that the MGM was now the safest hotel in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Robert |title=MGM Hotel in Las Vegas Is Reopened |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/31/us/mgm-hotel-in-las-vegas-is-reopened.html |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=July 31, 1981}}</ref> A minor incident occurred two weeks after the reopening, and the new safety features worked as planned. Insulation material had begun to [[smolder]] because of a [[welder]]'s torch, and this set off automatic alarms.<ref name=Heroes/><ref>{{cite news |title=Fire Alarms Go Off At MGM Grand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63438029/ |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=August 13, 1981 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
+The air-conditioning system was heavily modified to prevent smoke from entering hotel rooms, and large exhaust fans were installed, with the capability to rid the hotel of fumes in 10 minutes. Plastic pipes and wires, which contributed to the fire, were removed.<ref name=LAT>{{cite news |title=MGM Grand: Opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/387471746/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 30, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020210338/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/387471746/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A five-minute fire safety program, hosted by [[Gene Kelly]] in both English and Spanish, was played on televisions in hotel rooms.<ref name=Eichel/><ref name=Even/><ref name=LAT/> Resort officials believed that the MGM was now the safest hotel in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Robert |title=MGM Hotel in Las Vegas Is Reopened |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/31/us/mgm-hotel-in-las-vegas-is-reopened.html |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=July 31, 1981 |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018090941/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/31/us/mgm-hotel-in-las-vegas-is-reopened.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A minor incident occurred two weeks after the reopening, and the new safety features worked as planned. Insulation material had begun to [[smolder]] because of a [[welder]]'s torch, and this set off automatic alarms.<ref name=Heroes/><ref>{{cite news |title=Fire Alarms Go Off At MGM Grand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63438029/ |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=August 13, 1981 |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031071605/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/63438029/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-The original hotel tower, where most of the deaths occurred, continues to operate.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kachelriess |first=Rob |title=The Creepiest Haunted Places in Las Vegas |url=https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/las-vegas/haunted-houses-in-las-vegas-nevada-halloween |website=Thrillist |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |date=October 19, 2018}}</ref> A second tower opened in 1981. The MGM Grand was sold in 1986 to [[Bally Manufacturing]], which changed the name to [[Bally's Las Vegas]]. A [[MGM Grand Las Vegas|new MGM Grand]] was opened in Las Vegas in 1993, at the northeast corner of [[Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection|Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue]], south of the original MGM.
+The original hotel tower, where most of the deaths occurred, continues to operate, and is purported to be haunted by the fire victims.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kachelriess |first=Rob |title=The Creepiest Haunted Places in Las Vegas |url=https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/las-vegas/haunted-houses-in-las-vegas-nevada-halloween |website=Thrillist |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |date=October 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025024646/https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/las-vegas/haunted-houses-in-las-vegas-nevada-halloween |url-status=live }}</ref> A second tower opened in 1981. The MGM Grand was sold in 1986 to [[Bally Manufacturing]], which changed the name to [[Bally's Las Vegas]]. A [[MGM Grand Las Vegas|new MGM Grand]] was opened in Las Vegas in 1993, at the northeast corner of [[Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection|Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue]], south of the original MGM. Bally's was again renamed in 2022, as Horseshoe Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seeman |first=Matthew |title=Bye bye Bally's: Horseshoe Las Vegas rebrand makes its debut |url=https://news3lv.com/news/local/ballys-las-vegas-horseshoe-rebranding-soft-opening-phase-las-vegas-strip-southern-nevada-caesars-entertainment |access-date=December 16, 2022 |work=KSNV |date=December 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215233504/https://news3lv.com/news/local/ballys-las-vegas-horseshoe-rebranding-soft-opening-phase-las-vegas-strip-southern-nevada-caesars-entertainment |url-status=live }}</ref>
 === Code changes ===
-Within a week of the fire, Governor List formed a commission to determine whether older hotels in the state should be required to adopt newer fire safety rules.<ref>{{cite news |title=State MGM panel may ponder raising fire safety standards |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149116411/ |work=Reno Evening Gazette |agency=Associated Press |date=November 27, 1980 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On February 10, 1981, just 81 days after the MGM fire, another fire broke out at the [[Las Vegas Hilton#1981 fire|Las Vegas Hilton]], killing eight people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Killer fire sweeps LV Hilton|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1981/feb/11/killer-fire-sweeps-lv-hilton/?history|accessdate=July 7, 2011|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=February 11, 1981}}</ref><ref name=Neal/> Due to the two incidents, there was a major reformation of fire safety guidelines and codes. All buildings open to the public in Nevada were required to have fire sprinklers, smoke detectors in rooms and elevators, and exit maps in all hotel rooms. This law went into effect in 1981 and made Nevada a leader in fire safety regulation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-18/news/vw-6610_1_mgm-grand|last=Christian|first=Susan|title=Burning Memories: Ten years later, survivors continue to relive the MGM Grand fire|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 18, 1990|accessdate=October 19, 2017|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Engineers say today's LV hotels safer than ever |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/nov/08/engineers-say-todays-lv-hotels-safer-than-ever/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 8, 1999}}</ref><ref name=Neal>{{cite news |title=Ex-lawmaker Neal takes pride in sprinkler law |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/ex-lawmaker-neal-takes-pride-in-sprinkler-law/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=January 26, 2008}}</ref> It took several years for all buildings to be in compliance.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwartz |first=David G. |title=It Took a Fire to Change Us |url=https://knpr.org/dc-blog/it-took-fire-change-us |access-date=April 23, 2021 |work=Nevada Public Radio |date=June 2, 2020}}</ref>
+Within a week of the fire, Governor List formed a commission to determine whether older hotels in the state should be required to adopt newer fire safety rules.<ref>{{cite news |title=State MGM panel may ponder raising fire safety standards |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149116411/ |work=Reno Evening Gazette |agency=Associated Press |date=November 27, 1980 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122140120/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149116411/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 10, 1981, just 81 days after the MGM fire, another fire broke out at the [[Las Vegas Hilton#1981 fire|Las Vegas Hilton]], killing eight people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Killer fire sweeps LV Hilton|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1981/feb/11/killer-fire-sweeps-lv-hilton/?history|accessdate=July 7, 2011|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=February 11, 1981|archive-date=August 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806153943/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1981/feb/11/killer-fire-sweeps-lv-hilton/?history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Neal/> Due to the two incidents, there was a major reformation of fire safety guidelines and codes. All buildings open to the public in Nevada were required to have fire sprinklers, smoke detectors in rooms and elevators, and exit maps in all hotel rooms. This law went into effect in 1981 and made Nevada a leader in fire safety regulation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-18-vw-6610-story.html|last=Christian|first=Susan|title=Burning Memories: Ten years later, survivors continue to relive the MGM Grand fire|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 18, 1990|access-date=October 19, 2017|page=3|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050523/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-18/news/vw-6610_1_mgm-grand|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Engineers say today's LV hotels safer than ever |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/nov/08/engineers-say-todays-lv-hotels-safer-than-ever/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 8, 1999 |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614202525/https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/nov/08/engineers-say-todays-lv-hotels-safer-than-ever/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Neal>{{cite news |title=Ex-lawmaker Neal takes pride in sprinkler law |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/ex-lawmaker-neal-takes-pride-in-sprinkler-law/ |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=January 26, 2008 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031062333/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/ex-lawmaker-neal-takes-pride-in-sprinkler-law/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It took several years for all buildings to be in compliance.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwartz |first=David G. |title=It Took a Fire to Change Us |url=https://knpr.org/dc-blog/it-took-fire-change-us |access-date=April 23, 2021 |work=Nevada Public Radio |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516045937/https://knpr.org/dc-blog/it-took-fire-change-us |url-status=live }}</ref>
 ===Lawsuits===
-More than 1,350 legal claims were filed as a result of the fire, and most law firms in the [[Las Vegas Valley]] were occupied with these cases.<ref name=40Years/> Hundreds of lawsuits were filed against MGM, seeking more than $2 billion in [[damages]].<ref name=Foo/><ref name=Eichel/> One attorney, representing three local couples against MGM, expressed concern about the reopening, saying that the resort still had defects which could prove harmful in the event of another fire.<ref>{{cite news |title=Attorney Upset About Opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/516654966/ |work=Arizona Daily Sun |agency=United Press International |date=July 29, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> MGM made numerous settlement deals with the victims in 1983,<ref>{{cite news |title=The MGM Grand Hotel has reached a $75 million... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/05/The-MGM-Grand-Hotel-has-reached-a-75-million/6700410590800/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=January 5, 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM fire settlement: $140 million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/476105879/ |work=Press-Tribune |agency=United Press International |date=May 11, 1983 |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The MGM Grand Hotel, hit with hundreds of lawsuits... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/07/14/The-MGM-Grand-Hotel-hit-with-hundreds-of-lawsuits/9289427003200/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=July 14, 1983}}</ref> and a $76 million settlement between MGM and insurance companies was made in 1985.<ref>{{cite news |title=Settlement Reached In Complex MGM Hotel Fire Insurance Case |url=https://apnews.com/article/d16fefd26b1412125c0ee49e6e96760b |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=March 31, 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Arax |first=Mark |title=MGM Grand to Get $76 Million for Fire Claims |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-01-mn-28246-story.html |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 1, 1985}}</ref> In 1998, there was $440,000 left over in the MGM victim settlement. The remaining money was donated to Clark County victims of fires and burns.<ref>{{cite news |last=Geer |first=Carri |title=Money left from settlement related to MGM fire to be donated |url=http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-21-Mon-1998/news/8221587.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 21, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991215203021/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-21-Mon-1998/news/8221587.html |archive-date=December 15, 1999}}</ref>
+More than 1,350 legal claims were filed as a result of the fire, and most law firms in the [[Las Vegas Valley]] were occupied with these cases.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Shea |title='Hell on Earth': 40 years ago, a historic fire at the MGM Grand |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/hell-on-earth-40-years-ago-a-historic-fire-at-the-mgm-grand-2181965/ |access-date=April 23, 2021 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 14, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108220344/https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/hell-on-earth-40-years-ago-a-historic-fire-at-the-mgm-grand-2181965/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hundreds of lawsuits were filed against MGM, seeking more than $2 billion in [[damages]].<ref name=Foo/><ref name=Eichel/> One attorney, representing three local couples against MGM, expressed concern about the reopening, saying that the resort still had defects which could prove harmful in the event of another fire.<ref>{{cite news |title=Attorney Upset About Opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/516654966/ |work=Arizona Daily Sun |agency=United Press International |date=July 29, 1981 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122135909/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/516654966/ |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM made numerous settlement deals with the victims in 1983,<ref>{{cite news |title=The MGM Grand Hotel has reached a $75 million... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/05/The-MGM-Grand-Hotel-has-reached-a-75-million/6700410590800/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=January 5, 1983 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021233546/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/05/The-MGM-Grand-Hotel-has-reached-a-75-million/6700410590800/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MGM fire settlement: $140 million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/476105879/ |work=Press-Tribune |agency=United Press International |date=May 11, 1983 |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022024942/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/476105879/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The MGM Grand Hotel, hit with hundreds of lawsuits... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/07/14/The-MGM-Grand-Hotel-hit-with-hundreds-of-lawsuits/9289427003200/ |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |work=UPI |date=July 14, 1983 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023033451/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/07/14/The-MGM-Grand-Hotel-hit-with-hundreds-of-lawsuits/9289427003200/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and a $76 million settlement between MGM and insurance companies was made in 1985.<ref>{{cite news |title=Settlement Reached In Complex MGM Hotel Fire Insurance Case |url=https://apnews.com/article/d16fefd26b1412125c0ee49e6e96760b |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=March 31, 1985 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031063607/https://apnews.com/article/d16fefd26b1412125c0ee49e6e96760b |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Arax |first=Mark |title=MGM Grand to Get $76 Million for Fire Claims |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-01-mn-28246-story.html |accessdate=October 28, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 1, 1985 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031043821/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-01-mn-28246-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, there was $440,000 left over in the MGM victim settlement. The remaining money was donated to Clark County victims of fires and burns.<ref>{{cite news |last=Geer |first=Carri |title=Money left from settlement related to MGM fire to be donated |url=http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-21-Mon-1998/news/8221587.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 21, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991215203021/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-21-Mon-1998/news/8221587.html |archive-date=December 15, 1999}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-*{{cite web|last1=Best|first1=Richard|last2=Demers|first2=David P.|title=Investigation report on the MGM hotel fire|url=http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/Files/Press%20Room/lasvegasmgmgrand.pdf|publisher=National Fire Protection Association|date=January 15, 1982 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123111117/http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/Files/Press%20Room/lasvegasmgmgrand.pdf|archive-date=January 23, 2015}}
 *Bryan, John (1992). Human Behavior and Fire. In Arthur Cote (ed.) ''NFPA Handbook'', Section 7, Chapter 1. Quincy MA: NFPA. {{ISBN|0-87765-378-X}}
@@ Line 93: / Line 92: @@
 ;Online articles
 *{{cite web|url=https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Resources/Fire-Investigations/FIR_1980_11_21_hotel3.ashx?la=en |title=Fire at the MGM Grand |work=Fire Journal |date=January 1982}}
-*[http://fire.co.clark.nv.us/MGM.aspx MGM Grand Las Vegas 11/21/1980 Fire Clark County F.D. Final Report] (November 21, 1980) reports 85 deaths and "more than 700 injuries"
 *{{cite web|url=http://www.lvlife.com/2000/10/features/story03.html|last1=Dickensheets|first1=Scott|last2=Schmidt|first2=Amy|title=Burned Into Memory|publisher=Las Vegas Life|date=October 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331090120/http://www.lvlife.com/2000/10/features/story03.html|archive-date=March 31, 2008}}
 *{{cite news|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-21-Mon-2005/news/4389121.html|last=Morrison|first=Jane Ann|title=With probe tapes safe, politicians felt heat long after MGM Grand fire|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013162715/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-21-Mon-2005/news/4389121.html|archive-date=October 13, 2012 }}
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 [[Category:1980 fires in the United States]]
 [[Category:1980 in Nevada]]
-[[Category:Building fires in the United States]]
+[[Category:Events in Clark County, Nevada]]
-[[Category:History of Clark County, Nevada]]
 [[Category:Hotel fires in the United States]]
 [[Category:November 1980 events in the United States]]
-[[Category:High-rise fires]]
+[[Category:High-rise fires in the United States]]

v t e Hotel fires
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