Power Outage Shuts Down Las Vegas Casino
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LAS VEGAS (AP) – A massive power outage at a major Las Vegas resort prompted an evacuation at the iconic Paris Hotel and Casino, forcing out thousands of guests and employees.
The hotel lost power Thursday morning when workers in the basement cut into the main power line. A full evacuation was ordered when the fire alarm system battery power ran low and backup generator didn't kick in.
According to Clark County spokeswoman, Stacey Willing, the incident was called an accident during work that was authorized and scheduled, and there was no indication of sabotage or foul play.
Firefighters checked the 33-story tower carefully to make sure everyone was out. No injuries were reported, but fire crews had to rescue 11 people who were trapped in five different elevators.
Displaced guests and new arrivals were directed to the Caesars-owned Bally's Las Vegas Hotel next-door, where company officials were helping them find rooms at Caesars and competitors' properties up and down the Strip.
Entrances to the hotel were draped in yellow crime scene tape while hotel security guards stood by to ensure no one tried to re-enter.
Jay Sarno of Santa Fe Springs, California told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he won more than $1,000 on a Keno machine just before the power went out. The casino did give him a voucher to claim his money when the power is restored.
Sarno walked up 18 flights of stairs in the dark to retrieve belongings before fire officials ushered them outside.
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