An empty Las Vegas Monorail train caught fire near the Strip, prompting road closures and an emergency response, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at around 2:45 p.m. near the bustling casino corridor.
Extinguishing efforts by the Clark County Fire Department and the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue were swift, as they responded within five minutes of the initial report. Fire crews managed to quickly tackle a small blaze which was localized to a single monorail car, which was not in service and had no passengers aboard, as detailed by an announcement from News 3 LV.
While a precise cause has yet to be determined, it appears that the fire was the result of an electrical equipment failure. This assertion was echoed both by local fire officials and a statement from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The statement noted, “an out-of-service monorail train began smoking from a small fire in an electrical panel,” as 8 News Now reported.
Despite the potential for larger disruption, the incident did not extend beyond the monorail system. Roads were quickly cleared and traffic resumed normal flow by 4 p.m. There are no reported injuries for any passengers or fire personnel following the event, bringing a sigh of relief to those concerned about the safety of public transport infrastructure in the neon city.
#FASTALERT NB and SB Paradise Rd is CLOSED from Karen Ave to Sahara Ave for EMS and Clark County Fire Dept. Use other routes. pic.twitter.com/OyOVGUdXa0
— RTC Southern Nevada (@RTCSNV) August 30, 2024
