Arson probe launched in Vegas Golden Nugget fire


March 15, 2012 at 5:06p.m.

Arson probe launched in Vegas Golden Nugget fire

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say a man hospitalized in Las Vegas shouldn’t have been in the room where he was found overcome by smoke during a two-alarm fire on an upper floor of the downtown Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

Hotel spokeswoman Tiffany Hauck tells The Associated Press the fire was intentionally set.

Hauck says the man was a hotel guest who shouldn’t have been on the 22nd floor because it’s being renovated.

The man is now in critical condition at a hospital. His name hasn’t been made public.

The top floors of the 25-story Rush Tower were evacuated while fire sprinklers quelled the 8:30 a.m. today fire.

Damage is estimated at less than $1,000.

The alarms brought dozens of firefighters to the 2,345-room casino in the downtown Fremont Street casino district.