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Las Vegas Hotel Fire: One of the Deadliest Hotel Fires in America. On the fateful morning of November 21, 1980, one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history erupted at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The blaze claimed 85 lives, injured nearly 700 people, and forever altered fire safety protocols nationwide. This harrowing event, which unfolded in the glittering heart of Las Vegas, remains a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of safety oversights. A Las Vegas Police Officer on scene tells the story. Check out and follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms.
The fire began around 7:07 a.m. in a restaurant on the casino’s first floor. A refrigerated pastry display case in The Deli malfunctioned, sparking a blaze that quickly spread through the casino. Within minutes, thick black smoke engulfed the building, rising through elevator shafts and stairwells into the 26-story hotel tower. Of the approximately 5,000 guests and staff inside the MGM Grand that morning, many were trapped in their rooms, succumbing to smoke inhalation. You can listen to the interview as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast website, also available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major podcast outlets.
Mark Rusin, a former Las Vegas Metro Police officer and retired ATF agent, vividly recalls the chaos. “It was like hell on earth,” Rusin shared during the interview on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast. As one of the officers on the scene, Rusin and his squad were tasked with the grim duty of recovering bodies from the smoke-filled hotel. Look for supporting stories about this in platforms like Medium, Newsbreak and Blogspot.
Police and fire crews responded swiftly, with the Clark County Fire Department receiving the first call at 7:17 a.m. Despite their rapid deployment, the fire’s intensity and the building’s design flaws made rescue efforts perilous. Metro Police helicopters airlifted officers to the rooftop, where they descended into the hotel to locate victims. Las Vegas Hotel Fire: One of the Deadliest Hotel Fires in America. It is available as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“The hallways were pitch black,” Rusin recounted. “We carried gurneys, flashlights, and axes, navigating through the eerie silence broken only by the sounds of distant alarms and our own footsteps.” His team found victims in stairwells and corridors, many having succumbed while desperately trying to escape.
Among the 85 fatalities, most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation rather than direct burns. Survivors and responders described harrowing scenes: guests breaking windows to escape, others clinging to balconies awaiting rescue. One victim, described by Rusin, died shielding his wife from the smoke in a final act of love. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms.
The trauma of that day left an indelible mark on first responders. For Rusin, it led to years of reflection and healing, culminating in his book, Metro: Sin City Chronicles, which details his experiences as a Las Vegas officer. Las Vegas Hotel Fire: One of the Deadliest Hotel Fires in America. Platforms like the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, Apple Podcasts and Spotify make these stories more accessible.
The MGM Grand fire stands as Nevada’s deadliest disaster and the third-deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history, following the Winecoff Hotel fire in Atlanta (1946) and the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico (1986). Its impact, however, extended far beyond the immediate tragedy. The incident exposed critical safety flaws, including the absence of sprinklers in the casino and the use of flammable materials in the building’s construction. Keep informed by following the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, MeWe, Pinterest, Newsbreak, Medium and other social media outlets.
In the aftermath, Nevada implemented sweeping reforms to fire safety codes. These included mandatory sprinkler systems in high-rise buildings, fire-resistant construction materials, and comprehensive evacuation plans. Nationwide, the tragedy became a case study for fire safety and disaster preparedness. Las Vegas Hotel Fire: One of the Deadliest Hotel Fires in America.
Decades later, the MGM Grand fire’s story continues to resonate, amplified by social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Survivors, first responders, and historians share their accounts, ensuring the lessons learned are not forgotten. Podcasts on Apple, Spotify, and Newsbreak delve into the tragedy’s details, while platforms like Medium provide in-depth analyses of its lasting impact. Stay up to date by following the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, MeWe, Pinterest, Newsbreak, Medium and other social media platforms.
Today, the site of the MGM Grand is home to Horseshoe Las Vegas, a vibrant symbol of the city’s resilience. Yet, the memory of that devastating morning in 1980 endures, a somber reminder of the lives lost and the importance of vigilance in safety standards. For those who lived through it, like Mark Rusin, the fire remains a defining moment—a testament to the courage of first responders and the enduring need for preparedness in the face of catastrophe. Las Vegas Hotel Fire: One of the Deadliest Hotel Fires in America. The interview is available as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show, which is available as a free podcast on their website on platforms like Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
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Las Vegas Hotel Fire: One of the Deadliest Hotel Fires in America.
Attributions
Las Vegas Review Journal Archived
Las Vegas Review Journal Archived
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Retired Police Sergeant, Music Radio Personality, Talk Radio Show Host, Podcaster and Producer
John J. Wiley is a retired Police Sergeant turned radio personality. He has been a full time FM Music Radio DJ since 2005. In 2017 he founded the Law Enforcement Today Podcast, in a partnership with Robert Greenberg of Law Enforcement Today. The show is now named the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast.
Within a couple months a radio station heard an episode of the podcast and asked him to create a radio version, which he did. It has been syndicated since the Spring of 2017 and has numerous affiliate radio stations across the US.
