Wednesday, April 30, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.
Fire officials and investigators continue to sift through the remains of a Pahrump casino after a Tuesday morning fire destroyed the popular locals spot.
A fire that gutted the 60,000-square-foot Mountain View Casino and Bowl caused an estimated $10 million in damage to the building, Pahrump Valley Fire Chief Scott Lewis said.
Fire department officials and agents of the state Gaming Control Board and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the blaze that started in the kitchen of the casino restaurant. A damage estimate for nearly 400 destroyed slot and video poker machines, or the amount of cash lost in the fire has not been determined.
The fire quickly spread through the building that was built in the 1980s, about 65 miles west of Las Vegas.
"It moved up into the attic between the ceiling and the roof," Lewis said. "Later the ceilings collapsed."
About 50 people, including casino security guardChris Verzilli, fled the building as the fire spread.
"It all happened so fast," said Verzilli, who tried to put the fire out when he spotted it above a fryer in the kitchen of the Pines restaurant. "The smoke was so bad that all we could do was make sure that everyone got out."
Once outside, Verzilli was quickly joined by other employees and Pahrump residents who could see the 20-foot flames from miles away.
"There was just this huge ball of fire moving across the roof," said Mike Kintzer, another security guard at the Mountain View. "The fire was rolling like waves on the ocean."
Debbie Brooks, a co-owner of the casino, said she plans to rebuild for the community and for its 200 employees.
Along with a restaurant and a 24-lane bowling alley, the Mountain View also had an arcade, a buffet, and the Hideaway Bar, which had pool tables and dart boards.
"There were a lot of senior citizens that bowled here, and it was really the only place in town for teenagers," 20-year-old Pahrump resident Melissa Bordan said. "They closed the movie theater down, and now there is no bowling alley, so there is nothing for kids to do.
"I'm worried about the crime rate going up because the kids will have no place to go."
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