Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino Fire Report Issued

An analysis of materials involved in a fire on the outside of the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino revealed the use of a non-approved resin in two areas helped spread the blaze, according to Clark County officials. The January 25, 2008 fire started when molten metal fell on the roof as workers used a hand-held torch to cut some metal, fire investigators said. Tests on the foam used in the façade indicated it was fire retardant, as required. The wrong kind of resin was used on two of the decorative bands near the top of the hotel and caused the fire to spread faster than expected in that area according to the report.

Fire retardant materials used in construction, fire suppression systems inside the building and rapid response by Clark County firefighters contained the blaze. There were no serious injuries and fire damage was mostly limited to a small part of the exterior of the hotel. The lamina in some areas, the report said, is about one to two millimeters thinner than it should be and some decorative elements do not have lamina encasing the foam, the analysis said. Parts of the exterior do not meet manufacturer's guidelines, as required by code, the report said. While those issues might affect the durability of the exterior materials, they didn't contribute to the fire's spread.

The Monte Carlo was built 16 years ago by a previous owner, so we may be able to take advantage of new construction techniques that were unavailable in 1992," according to the statement issued by the building owners.