Cigarette may be cause in hotel fire

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Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 10:53 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- A burning cigarette is believed to be the culprit behind a weekend fire at Harrah's Casino and Hotel.

The fire started Sunday in a housekeeping cart on the sixth floor of in the hotel. There were no injuries.

Vicksburg Fire Chief Kevin Westbrook said an investigation into the small blaze ruled out any other possibilities, including arson.

"The blaze started in the maid's cart they use to go up and down and clean the rooms with," he said. "We don't know if a cigarette was emptied in there or if a guest in the hotel had dropped a cigarette down there, but we definitely know it started in the cart."

Teri Farmer, marketing director for Harrah's Vicksburg Corp. said most of the hotel's 117-rooms were reopened for business Monday. She said the casino never closed.