Posted: 05/15/2011 11:14:01 AM PDT
Updated: 05/15/2011 11:16:08 AM PDT
A transformer on a street behind the Monte Carlo resort blew up about 12:30 a.m., police spokesman Lt. William Scott said.
There were no reports of any injuries and no one at the resort was affected, but power was temporarily cut to parts of the building, Scott told The Associated Press.
The exterior lights of the nearby Aria Resort & Casino and Vdara hotel at CityCenter also went out, apparently because of the fire.
"Crews put out residual fire quickly after most of the fire had burned itself out," Welling said.
More than an hour after the explosion, a reporter positioned about 500 yards away said there were no visible flames and firefighters were dousing an area where smoke was emanating.
The northbound lanes of nearby Interstate 15 were shut down for a time because of debris from the explosion and poor visibility caused by the smoke, but was reopened.
Several people posted links to photos and videos of the blaze on Twitter, drawing widespread attention to the fire.
The Monte Carlo experienced another fire in January 2008, with flames caused by flying molten metal devouring a foam-like building material on the 32-story resort. Thousands of guests and employees were evacuated, but no serious injuries were reported. The resort's owners, MGM Resorts International, refurbished and reopened the rooms on its top floor.
---
Associated Press writer Bob Seavey in Phoenix contributed to this story. Oskar Garcia can be reached at http://Twitter.com/oskargarcia
No comments:
Post a Comment