On this day, November 21, 1980, tragedy struck Las Vegas when the MGM Grand Hotel caught fire, resulting in the worst disaster in Nevada’s history. The fire claimed 87 lives and injured over 650 people, marking one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history.
The blaze started in a restaurant on the ground floor and spread rapidly, fueled by flammable furnishings and inadequate fire safety measures. This tragedy led to significant reforms in fire codes and safety regulations for hotels and high-rise buildings nationwide.
Do you remember hearing about the MGM Grand fire? How do you think it changed the way we approach building safety today?