Las Vegas Hotel Fire From a Cop's Experience

Las Vegas, NV — On the morning of November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino became the site of one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history. The fire claimed 85 lives, injured nearly 700 people, and led to significant changes in fire safety protocols nationwide. Former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer turned ATF Agent Mark Rusin provides a firsthand account of the tragedy in a free podcast episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show. The episode is available on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and other major platforms. The fire began at 7:07 a.m. in a restaurant on the casino’s first floor due to an electrical malfunction in a refrigerated pastry display case at The Deli. Flames and thick black smoke quickly spread through the casino’s highly flammable decor. The building’s design flaws allowed smoke to travel into the 26-story hotel tower via elevator shafts and stairwells, trapping many occupants. Las Vegas Metro Police officers were among the fir...