Major fire grips Las Vegas hotel

[ereader]

Major fire grips Las Vegas hotel


The building is owned by MGM Mirage




A major fire has broken out on the roof and top floor of a hotel and casino complex in the US city of Las Vegas. Plumes of smoke have been rising from the Monte Carlo hotel on the city's main street, the Strip.
City and country firefighters were called to the blaze, which broke out at about 1100 (1900 GMT).
No injuries were reported and the building was evacuated, but the fire is proving difficult to put out as firefighters have to get to the roof.
Firefighting teams are trying to determine if the flames have penetrated the interior of the top floors, which are filled with penthouse suites, or if the blaze is confined to the facade.
There are reports of debris falling from the roof. The entire Las Vegas Strip has been shut to traffic and neighbouring hotels have also been evacuated.
The 3,000-room Monte Carlo hotel and adjoining casino are owned by entertainment company MGM Mirage.
A fire at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel in 1980 claimed more than 80 lives and injured nearly 700 people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7210121.stm