MGM Grand Fire | Wikireadia #308

An ordinary Friday morning on the Las Vegas Strip in 1980 -- until a fireball blows out the front doors of the largest hotel in town at seven in the morning. The nation watched live in real time for the rest of the day as the building burned, with stranded guests waving sheets out windows and being rescued from the hotel roof by helicopters. ChatGPT Prompt: Tell me about the MGM Grand Fire. CharGPT Answer: "The MGM Grand Fire was a tragic incident that occurred on November 21, 1980, at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fire killed 85 people and injured over 700, making it one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history. The fire started in the early morning hours, just after 7:00 am, in the deli of the casino's restaurant. It quickly spread through the casino and up into the hotel's upper floors. The fire was fueled by flammable materials such as upholstery, carpets, and wall coverings, which were prevalent throughout the building. The fire department was alerted, and firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes. However, they were faced with several challenges, including a lack of information about the building's layout and a shortage of water pressure in the hotel's standpipe system. Despite these obstacles, firefighters worked tirelessly to rescue guests and contain the fire. Many guests were trapped in their rooms and had to be rescued by helicopter from the hotel's roof. Others jumped from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the flames. In the aftermath of the fire, investigations revealed a number of safety violations and hazards that had contributed to the disaster. These included blocked exits, inadequate fire suppression systems, and non-fire-resistant building materials. As a result of the MGM Grand Fire, many changes were made to fire safety regulations and building codes, including increased requirements for sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, and fire-resistant materials. The tragedy also led to the creation of the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code, which outlines safety requirements for buildings such as hotels, motels, and dormitories. The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino was later renovated and reopened as Bally's Las Vegas. The site of the fire is now the location of the MGM Grand Garden Arena."