This is amazing. I work in insurance underwriting for a purchasing group. We specialize in excess insurance for high end resorts. My particular territory also includes the casinos in Vegas. Luckily, this is not one of my accounts. And I have to say this is going to be GREAT for our program.
For any of you who know Vegas, a few of the hotels I do work on are all the Station Casinos, Hard Rock, Sahara...etc. It's really a cool industry.
I'm thinking this was a heating duct gone bad. Although the hotel is sprinklered, the EIFS probably caught on like wildfire which is what caused the outside to burn so quickly.
Supposedly there was some construction work being done on the work. I think the fire had something to do with welding. It is really a shame because the Monte Carlo is a beautiful hotel. I was just in Vegas this past July and that is one of the only hotels I didn't walk through!