Firefighters remember
NFPA report
Clark County Fire Department summary
Clark County Fire Department report
Thirty years ago, November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas burned. Eighty-five people died and more than 700 were injured, including 14 firefighters. Here’s how the Clark County Fire Department describes the cause of the fire and the initial response:
It was determined during the investigation that the fire originated in the wall soffit of the side stand in the Deli, one of five restaurants located on the casino level.
The investigators concluded that several factors contributed to the cause of the fire but the primary source of ignition was an electrical ground fault.
From nfpadotorg on YouTube, this two part video (above and below): “Former NFPA fire investigator Dave Demers introduces a documentary chronicling the historic fire MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The fire, which took place November 21, 1980, was the second largest loss-of-life hotel fire in the United States. The documentary, produced by the NFPA in 1981, examines how the fire began, the local response to the blaze, and how 85 people lost their lives in the incident.”
The employee first observed a reflection of a flickering light and, upon closer inspection, discovered a wall of flame traveling from the countertop to the ceiling. He immediately notified MGM security about the fire and proceeded to secure a hose line and fire extinguisher.
The employee repeatedly attempted to contain the fire but – by that time – the heat, smoke and pressure buildup was so intense that he was knocked down each time he tried to enter the Deli. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he decided to leave the area.
At the same time, other employees noticed the spreading fire and tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the growing flames.
Within six minutes of the time of discovery, the total casino area was involved in fire, at a burning rate of approximately 15 to 19 feet per second!
The Clark County Fire Department received the call reporting the fire at 7:17 A.M. Captain Rex Smith, Engineer Chad Marshal, and Firefighters Bert Sweeney, Toby Lamuraglia, and Ted Singer arrived in Engine 11 at 7:19 A.M. They positioned the 1,500 GPM fire engine at the North entrance of the casino and implemented the High Rise Preplan.
Upon entering the casino, the crew observed black smoke emitting from the Deli. They were only forty feet into the hotel when a huge fireball burst out of the Deli and rolled into the casino, hustling the crew out of the building. The company made it back to the engine as the flames sprang out the front of the entrance.
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Dave
Thanks for the look back at some important part of Fire Service History.
Prior to the MGM Grand fire, during the 1970′s;
A. “Group W” TV Productions did a one hour TV Program on how people react in a fire situation as well as changes in how room furnishings were change to- Polyurethane Foam.
B. ABC TV and the late achor person Jules Bergman did a program on high rise fires, most notably on that occured in Sao Palo, Brail and the NFPA sold copies of this documentary for several years after.
C. 1973 “America Burning- ‘The Report of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control’”, was published.
D. The second “Great Chelsea” (Mass.) fire occured
E. In 1976, the Movie “The Towering Inferno” was released.
Comparatively, in the time period between the Highrise Fire in Brazil up to the one that occured in Shanghi, China, last week, the main issue of fixed operational Sprinkler Systems is a common theme, that while accepted in the Hotel/Motel, Gaming Industries and other Business communities IS Still facing hurdles in the Residential Construction Industry.
Well over 35 years since the concept was mentioned in America Burning.
Looking at the video brought back some memories.
On that day, was off duty from my FD job in a SF Bay Area Fire Department although one of my co-workers had previously worked in the Las Vegas FD and he later told some other items.
At Video I. About 7 min 05 seconds in, flaming pools outside of the hotel. From what I remember this was found to be, burning plastic, that essentially had vaporized in the initial flashover and then cooled enough to pool and continue to burn.
The “Gambler” shown in video 2, sliding down a rope, caused “A lot” of negative comments from co-workers and instructors in my area.
Lessons were learned and acted upon from this fire, but a lot more still needs to be done.
I was one of the Survivors of the MGM Grand fire 2393 was my room number to this day I have the same key on my key ring from the actual room that I was in that day. If it was not for me to act and break some of the rules to survive…I would not be writing this article now. Soon it will be a 40 year Anniversary, I can be contacted to tell my story how I survived and I also have pictures of the room with the smoke coming in the Air Vents and the Windows that I knocked to survive to get air mainly because of the side of the building that I was on, the smoke was not rising up on the side of the building where I was at which was on the North Side of the Building. swanswanrealty@yahoo.com
Correction not 40 years ago 32 years ago from this year of 2012. I was counting somewhere from the year when it open which was 39 years ago.