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By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Editor's Note: In remembrance of today's 32nd anniversary of the MGM Grand fire, the Sun arranged a gathering of a group of firefighters who were there to tell their personal stories, most of which have never been presented publicly until now. Members of the group included some of the first to arrive at the scene, where 85 people died and some 700 were injured. The firefighters, who have all retired from the Clark County Fire Department, also provided the Sun with many photos taken during the investigation — images which have also never been published. Two distant, black columns of ...
Between the story copy, video & photos...
and impressive piece of 21st century journalism.
Kudos to Mr. Toplikar & the Sun.
Never again.
my mom was working for an answering service when this horrific fire happened....they handled the overflow calls from the coroners office...I can remember how tired, both physically and emotionally, she was when this happened.....I know nurse who can't go into that building because of the ghosts they feel....everyone who was involved with the tragedy has scars of one type or another from it, but the people there first hand, i just have to say God bless....you all went thru hell that day and came out on the other side....
WOW, a great article written by a true journalist.
This was a very tragic and life changing event for the many, many people involved and the firefighters who were there that day.
God Bless
I know many of those mentioned in the article personally and I can attest that that day changed their lives.
I will never forget walking into the fire scene a few days after the incident and seeing the destruction in the casino.
It helped me choose a career.
An absolutely great article.
Great article. Also, let us remember the "villains" in this tragedy.
The "less government regulation" types. We see their presence today. People killed by tainted medications and bad food products. Employees killed at mines and drilling rigs by the "get government of our backs" corporate jet elitists. Also, the hateful men who want to cut training, pay and benefits from our first responders.
Thank God for government regulation and may the forces of darkness that oppose safety codes be consigned to the dust bin of history (or the editorial rooms of backward newspapers that just don't get it..)
http://www.lvrj.com/news/fire-sprinkler-...
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/sprinkler-ma...
http://www.lvrj.com/news/sprinkler-propo...
Awesome article and fantastic photos. Thanks for the history lesson and the captivating writing. Hats off to the firefighters who undoubtedly saved many lives that day.
What a well written article. I was at work that morning since I worked the graveyard shift at the MGM. Thank God a wonderful Security Guard got us out safely on the third floor. Only about 7 of us were at work. It still makes me very sad remembering that day. We were booked and there were a lot of Spanish speaking guests who had no idea help was on the way. I can still smell the smoke to this very day. Thanks to all the Firefighters who rescued the Employees and Guests that day. I will never get over it or forget.
yes all building must have fire sprinkers. They are just as important as toilets.
I fully understand how something like this never leaves you. Many years ago as a young fire insurance adjuster I was assigned a fire in a three family home. I was my first large fire.
I had been told that someone had died by the police on the scene. I went into the structure and as I entered what turne dout to be the bedroom of a 4 month old chile who had died all I saw on the mattress was the outline of the babies form. Even today 40 years later I can still see that outline as if it were yesterday. It never left me
@mred... I find that even worse for our country than "hateful men who want to cut training, pay and benefits from our first responders" are the firefighters today ride of the backs of the heroes of yesterday. Nothing that the brave men like, Bendorf, Lowe, Sweeney, Pappageorge, Perkins and Jersey did 32 years ago that can justify firefighters milking taxpayers for six figures today to sit around and play XBox all day, and they should be disgusted by anyone who tries.
@Dave Toplikar...Last I heard Puerto Rico is still an American territory, so that would make the December 31, 1986 Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which took the lives of 97 people) the second deadliest fire in U.S. History, behind the 1946 fire at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia which killed 119 people.
Comment removed by moderator. ALL CAPS
For an event that killed 85 people old MGM Corp was able to reopen pretty quickly (in about 6 months).
I'm surprised the whole building wasn't demolished - instead it's now called BALLYS
Not even a HUGE fire will slow down these casinos
My dad worked at McCarran as an Air Traffic Controller, he helped guide the helicopters in to rescue people when this fire happened. He remembers it well.
My husband and I were on the 25th floor that day. Thank each of you for saving our lives.
Very Fascinating Journalism! My Thanks go out to the Firefighters who have had to endure a lifetime of these tragic memories.I would also like to thank them for helping make my stay feel a heckuva lot safer when I visit Vegas every few Months. The whole World should thank you for your efforts to make sprinklers a requirement.I have stayed at Bally's twice and it is an eerie feeling to me, especially being in a Hotel Room knowing quite possibly someone had perished there. I always take a moment of silence to somehow let them know they have not been forgotten either. Honestly can hardly stand to stay there for a very long period. I can only imagine how hard it is for the Firefighters to have to relive this But I am Glad you guys did this for us....This part of history needed to be told. I was 18 when this happened and have really only in the last few years come to understand what a tragedy this was on the Day in November.Having had Carbon Monoxide poisoning at the age of 12 I only pray that ALL of the victims did not have to suffer very long..It is a silent killer. Thanks again to the Brave Men wearing that Uniform!