Culture

The Las Vegas Strip Shut Down When A Fire Broke Out At The Bellagio Hotel

by: Uproxx authors

Portions of the Las Vegas strip were shut down early Friday morning as firefighters fought back a massive fire that began to engulf the iconic Bellagio Hotel. The fire, which firefighters told CBS Las Vegas affiliate KLAS-TV had originated some 30 to 40 feet above the casino’s retail shopping area, was further fueled by winds that hit gusts up to 40 mph. Las Vegas’s ABC affiliate, Action News 13, reports that it took 77 fire department personnel to get the blaze under control and that authorities were first alerted to the fire at around 10:46 p.m.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports no one was injured in the fire, and no rooms were affected by the flames that burned for more than 30 minutes before crews were able to extinguish them. Firefighters reportedly had a difficult time initially reaching the fire due to its location relative to where people could be stationed or hoisted. Police managed to keep pedestrians and traffic to a minimum in an area that is frequently packed an hour before midnight as firefighters dealt with the inferno.

Witnesses could see the fire from multiple other Vegas hotels and casinos that line the strip. Even as police worked to clear the area, a crowd gathered at the foot of the hotel’s famous fountain as sparks and debris fell into the water. Many of the witnesses posted videos of the blaze to social media.

https://twitter.com/PRIMO1MX/status/852770438761467904

(Via Las-Vegas Review Journal, CBS Las Vegas, ABC Las Vegas, and CBS News)

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