The tragic MGM Grand Hotel fire of November 21, 1980, claimed 87 lives, but contrary to popular belief, no victims died because they refused to leave slot machines.

The myth originated from a Washington Post article that incorrectly reported two victims were found "frozen in their tracks" near slot machines. However, the Clark County Fire Department's official report confirms that none of the 17 bodies found on the first floor were in the casino area.

The true cause of this tragedy was corporate cost-cutting. MGM's owner Kirk Kerkorian and chairman Fred Benninger refused to install automatic sprinklers to save $192,000 on the $106 million construction. They obtained an exemption from Clark County Building Department director John Pisciotta, who ruled sprinkler codes didn't apply because the casino operated 24/7.

According to National Fire Protection Association investigator David Demers, with sprinklers installed, it "would have been a one- or two-sprinkler fire, and we never would have heard about it."

The aftermath led to:

• Installation of mandatory sprinkler systems
• $223 million in legal settlements
• Sale of the property to Bally Manufacturing in 1986
• Construction of the new MGM Grand at a different location in 1993

Clark County Fire Capt. Jon Sabol, the last active firefighter who fought the blaze, confirmed: "Nobody died at a gaming table or slot machine. They were slow in getting out. But everyone got away from the tables and slot machines before the fireball came through."

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