Fire Burns Roof of New ‘Fontainebleau’ Hotel in Las Vegas

Smoke could be seen across the Strip on Saturday as fire crews battled flames

Las Vegas fire crews responded to a fire on the roof of the Fontainebleau Hotel property on the Las Vegas Strip, which occurred on July 22, with no injuries reported; investigators are determining the cause, and the 67-story hotel, under construction since 2007, has changed ownership multiple times.
— Photo courtesy of KVVU Fox 5, Las Vegas

Reports out of Clark County, Nev., told of a fire burning on the roof of the Fontainebleau Hotel property on the Las Vegas Strip this past Saturday, July 22, as Las Vegas fire crews responded to the blaze. According to Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels, the first round of crews arrived at the Fontainebleau close to 4 p.m. local time.

KVVU, the local Fox affiliate, reported that crews were dispatched to different areas of the property currently under construction. Samuels said not much of the property is operational, but construction workers could have been inside the building.

Samuels said that crews took the elevator up to the roof and found roofing material debris on fire. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes of units arriving on the scene. Investigators are currently determining the cause of the fire.

Samuels said 12 engines, four ladder trucks, seven rescues and two air resources responded to the fire. Over 90 personnel worked to knock it down.

No injuries were reported.

With the desert Southwest experiencing punishing heat, crews had been prepared for calls during the oppressive weather; a rehab spot was set up for first responders to get hydrated. Crews also rotated out to recover from the heat.

Samuels said the building owners followed building codes and all fire pumps worked. The 67-story hotel has been under construction since 2007, just before the real estate market's collapse that precipitated the Great Recession, and has changed ownership multiple times, KVVU reported.