Rio Hotel and Casino in Vegas Fire Causes Blackout: Hundreds Evacuated
A fire was reported just before 4:30 pm local time (7:30 pm EST) Wednesday at the famed Rio Hotel and Casino west of the Vegas Strip. It is host to the World Series of Poker.
Multiple Clark County Fire Department crews are responding with a "high" level fire response, sending four engines, two trucks, four rescues, and two battalion chiefs, as well as a City of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue engine.
Smoke was detected on the 27th through 29th floors with over 400 rooms evacuated and guests shuttled elsewhere to stay the night, including other portions of the property where backup power was available.
According to a representative with Caesars Entertainment, the electrical fire did cause the sprinklers to go off on affected floors.
The water was turned off on those floors and the occupants of the 150 rooms impacted were also evacuated as a precaution.
Emergency power is on for the top half of the hotel and power was still on at the Voodoo Lounge through the night, according to the Caesars representative.
