Shortly before 11:00 am a passerby called 911 to report that the south tower of the Monte Carlo Hotel was on fire. Four employees were reportedly stuck on the roof. Fire crews on the scene. It is a three alarm fire. People are being evacuated from the property.
Las Vegas Blvd South is shut down between Harmon Ave and Flamingo. All foot traffic has been moved to the east side of the Strip. Fire debris is falling down to the sidewalk.
The Monte Carlo, built in the 1990s, has 3,000 rooms. It appears the fire started either on one of the top floors or the roof. The facade that spells out Monte Carlo across the crown of the hotel is badly damaged and destroyed at one end.
As a precaution, according to CNN, Fox News and MSNBC both New York, New York and the CityCenter have been evacuated.
Near-by exits for I-15 have been closed.
At 11:50, the gas to the hotel was shut-off.
The fire that started atop the West Wing of the hotel has been put out and the fire atop the South Wing of the hotel is now being reported under control.
Las Vegas Blvd South will remain closed as fire crews continue to clean up.
The Review Journal is reporting that the evacuees from the Monte Carlo are being taken to the MGM Garden Arena while KLAS-Channel 8 is reporting they are being taken to the Bellagio.
There are reports coming in that there were welders working on the roof prior to the fire.
Located near the busy intersection of Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd South, the Monte Carlo is flanked by New York, New York to the south and the under construction CityCenter to her north.
Both city and county fire crews responded to the fire and Metro is asking that people stay away from the area so that the crews can continue their clean-up work.
The cause of the fire is still unknown and under investigation. There are no known injuries.
At noon, the Clark County Fire Department confirmed that there were welders on the roof prior to the fire breaking out.
All guests on floor 15 and above have been evacuated. Fire personnel are checking each floor below 15 to be sure that everyone has been evacuated.
In true Vegas fashion, the Associated Press is reporting that patrons were still gambling while the hotel was being evacuated.
Updates:
Over 100 fire personnel responded to the fire along with 25 pieces of appartus.
No major injuries but five people were taken to near-by hospitals. KLAS-8 is reporting that those five guests were treated for smoke inhalation. Eight engineers were also treated for inhalation.
The hotel has been completely evacuated. Hotel guests are being housed at other MGM hotels.
Las Vegas Blvd is still closed between Tropicana and Flamingo and Frank Sinatra Drive is closed to non-essential traffic. If you are going to work this evening via Frank Sinatra Drive be prepared to show your employee ID to be let around the roadblocks.
KLAS-8 will air a special broadcast tonight at 10:00 pm.
Guests are reporting that they heard fire alarms but did not know they needed to evacuate until hotel personnel knocked on their doors or they turned on the television to find out what all the sirens were for.
The hotel was at a 97% occupancy rate at the time the blaze started.
Update at 4:15 pm
Las Vegas Blvd South is open again to traffic. Monte Carlo is still closed between Las Vegas Blvd South and Frank Sinatra. Employees will need work ID to get around road blocks.
Employee Hotline (to find out if they go to work tomorrow): 693-7005 Guest Hotline (to find out more information): 891-4411 Update at 6:00 pm Lance Burton's show this evening has been officially cancelled. His props and equipment were not damaged. The Hotel will reopen tonight so that only guests can retrieve their luggage and belongings. Guests are being accomodated at the MGM Mirage's other hotels. People coming to town with reservations at the Monte Carlo will be accomodated by the MGM Mirage's other hotels. The Las Vegas Sun is estimating that the Monte Carlo could lose $1.1 million each day it is closed Still no word on what caused the blaze in the first place.
The Monte Carlo will re-open this Friday, February 15th. The cause of the fire has been determined. It was started by an errant spark from the welding that was being done on the roof.