HARRAH'S LAS VEGAS: 'Fire watch' set up - News

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Oct. 17, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

HARRAH'S LAS VEGAS: 'Fire watch' set up

Clark County fire officials order safety precautions at Strip hotel

By JOAN WHITELY
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Pedestrians walk Monday past Harrah's Las Vegas, where "fire watch" foot patrols have been used.
Photo by John Gurzinski.

The Clark County Fire Department has ordered round-the-clock "fire watch" foot patrols on unoccupied floors at Harrah's Las Vegas to compensate for the possibility of code violations in the hotel's fire alarm system.

But explanations of this step, from the county and Harrah's Entertainment, evolved for several days before achieving consistency.

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"When our inspectors went over there, they found out the alarm system was not up to code," Scott Allison, a fire department spokesman, said Monday night. In some locations, "sirens and horns" that provide audible warning appeared not to be hooked up.

"In their fire alarm system, there were things missing," Allison said Monday. "The proper plans (for the alarm system) had not been filed, nor did they request any inspections" after changes were made, likely during renovation.

Midafternoon Tuesday, Allison repeated, "In some areas, they were lacking fire alarms and horns and strobes."

But later Tuesday afternoon, county Fire Chief Steven Smith telephoned the newspaper in a conference call with four other fire officials to explain that the fire watches at Harrah's Las Vegas were called "to err on the side of safety." Smith said that until Harrah's supplies the department with plans for its fire safety system, the department cannot definitively say what code violations exist.

By early Tuesday evening -- after a twice-yearly fire inspection of Harrah's Las Vegas had been completed that same day -- Harrah's Entertainment executives Marybel Batjer and Jan Jones telephoned the Review-Journal to say the Strip property had passed its inspection.

"The sirens and horns are all connected, and they were inspected today," Jones said. "There are no areas where they are not connected. But until (the Fire Department receives) plans to review, they have to show it as a violation."

Allison said county fire inspectors were at the hotel for several days starting Friday, when it first ordered fire watches. But Harrah's Las Vegas has been conducting voluntary fire watches since Oct. 8, when the hotel voluntarily closed 537 guest rooms and suites, Batjer said. She emphasized the hotel itself closed the rooms after an internal corporate investigation, which is ongoing, suggested the spaces had been remodeled without permits or safety inspections.

The areas of the hotel now on fire watch all lie outside areas that guests can frequent since the room closures. One area on fire watch that is still occupied is administrative space on the second and third floors, which is in use by human-resource and accounting employees as the patrols go through.

Batjer is vice president of public policy and communications for Harrah's Entertainment, which she joined in 2005. Jones, her superior, is senior vice president of communications and government relations.

Jones is a former mayor of Las Vegas. Batjer has a Nevada personal history, too; her father, Cameron, was once a Nevada Supreme Court justice.

But much of Batjer's work history lies in high government circles. She served in the Reagan White House as a special assistant for National Security Affairs and as an assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. In the George H.W. Bush administration, she was a special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. Before going corporate, she was a policy advisor to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. And before that, she was chief of staff to then-Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Because of conflicting accounts, the Review-Journal held this report on the fire watches for a day, to allow officials in the Fire Department and the county's building division to exchange information.

The fire alarm system at any commercial high-rise property is an extensive program that, beyond the audible alarms, encompasses strobe lights to alert the hearing-impaired and a component to trace whichever smoke detectors go off, and when. As needed during a fire, the alarm system also recalls elevators, and orders defensive changes in the ventilation system. For example, an alarm system will increase air pressure in exit corridors and stairwells so smoke cannot infiltrate them as easily; it will also close dampers to withhold oxygen from the site where a fire has originated.

Allison said that in the Carnival guest tower at Harrah's on the Strip, floors two through 19, and 30 through 35 are being patrolled. In the Mardi Gras tower, floors 19 through 23 are patrolled.

Apart from the Fire Department's recent action, the county's building division also issued several violation notices last week to Harrah's Las Vegas for floors four through 18 in the property's Carnival tower, north. Workers have said remodeling took place there in summer 2006.

"Hotel room renovation done without approved plans, permits or inspection," county building inspector Douglas Buelow wrote on the notices.

In addition, Buelow also issued a correction notice -- which is less severe than a notice of violation -- for the same floors. It orders Harrah's to properly seal walls between guest rooms; holes in walls through which sprinkler lines pass; and "slab penetrations," which are holes drilled through the concrete separating one floor from the next.

County public information officer Stacey Welling on Monday provided the newspaper with copies of the notices, which the county issued Thursday and Friday.

"They do expect to issue some more notices of violation," Welling said, as exploratory work by county and corporate representatives continues.

According to Welling, the architecture firm Marnell Corrao has signed on as general contractor to remediate the faulty remodeling at Harrah's Las Vegas. She said the county issued the contractor a demolition permit, which is the first step in bringing remodeling there up to code. After demolition of inappropriate work, plans must be submitted to the county and approved, before any new construction work can be done or inspected.

Marnell Corrao has designed many high-rise hotels in Las Vegas including Wynn Las Vegas and Bellagio, as well as the Rio.

The Rio, another Harrah's Entertainment property, is undergoing remodeling woes of its own. County inspectors Monday sent a notice of violation for remodeling work done in the honeymoon suites of the Rio's Masquerade tower without permits or inspections. Before Monday, violation notices were confined to the Rio's older Ipanema tower.

On Oct. 5, the county had ordered the Rio to shut down two floors of rooms on the Ipanema tower, including one floor of high-roller suites. A fire watch is taking place on those two floors, also, Allison added.

A demolition permit also has been issued to access and remove inappropriate remodeling work at the Rio, Welling said Monday.

She pointed out that detailed descriptions of the exploratory and corrective work at both hotels will be contained in a final written report that county Development Services will make public when the buildings are in compliance.

Jones has said Harrah's Entertainment -- which is the world' largest gaming enterprise -- believes that defective remodeling is limited to the Harrah's Las Vegas and Rio properties, based on current information.

But a sister property, the Flamingo Las Vegas, also was the scene of a little controversy last week.

On Thursday, a county fire engine stood by for more than six hours while a leak in a "standpipe" that provides fire-fighting water in one Flamingo tower was repaired. Such leaks occur in the course of ordinary maintenance. But the Review-Journal noticed that the engine -- which is supposed to serve as a bypass, in case firefighters need to get water to that tower's upper floors -- was not hooked in to the hotel's firefighting water supply.

Allison minimized the fact, observing that hooking up an engine is "almost as fast as hooking up a garden hose." Worry about laying out hoses in an area of pedestrian traffic was another issue. But he said the fire department is looking at whether to make hooking in an automatic part of the department's protocol for providing engine backup during a significant repair.

Contact reporter Joan Whitely at jwhitely@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0268.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Anne wrote on October 22, 2007 10:10 AM: I'm not shocked by any of this as I previously worked at a Harrah's property... I will expect to see other such findings across the globe at Harrah's properties prior to closing the buyout... people are fed up with this company and Gary Loveman... Sto-PM wrote on October 21, 2007 07:10 PM: Fred, Why don`t you tell us who you think is responsible for this ...i.e names not just Harrah`s or Roman Empire Development? Fred Frazzetta wrote on October 19, 2007 11:14 PM: the truth: I beg to differ with you - the RJ has done a great service to this community by having the balls to stand up to Harrah's, which is something that you are obviously lacking! Maybe, before you insert your foot into your mouth again, and show your very obvious ignorance to the other readers you should actually take the time to call the Building Department or Fire Department and see if there is such a thing called a "light remodel?" Do you have any sense...do you realize that you sound like a total & complete idiot..."kinda borderline." For the sake of all the millions of visitors that come to Las Vegas each year and the Hotel employees I sincerely hope that skipping permits is not the standard on the Strip. As Joan Whitely so aptly put it: "visitors shouldn't have to cross their fingers that their room is safe when they stay here in Las Vegas." I suggest that you get your facts straight...to help you I will make sure that the notices of violations from both the County Building Department & the County Fire Department make it somewhere for all to see - not that I think that this will shut you up any because you have no sense...just a narrow sheep mind for following blindly. Readers, "the truth" either works for Harrah's or Roman Empire Development..either way this person obviously has stood by and watched Harrah's put peoples lives in jeopardy over & over again, and by not having said anything this person is just as guilty as those responsible for the illegal remodel work. Plain and simple Harrah's has been caught breaking the law...they have no defense for doing so - and the bottom line is pure unadulterated GREED! Fred Frazzetta wrote on October 19, 2007 10:27 PM: LV Contractor: I spent over 1 hour today at the Las Vegas Fire Department, located at 575 E. Flamingo Rd. with Assistant Fire Chief Sandra J. Baker, Deputy Fire Marshal Kurt Gottschalk, Fire Inspector Brian S. Kern, and Fire Inspector Martin Casillas discussing the reason for the various fire watches at both Harrah's Hotel & Casino and all of the Rio Hotel Ipanema Tower. Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. has done a number of illegal remodel projects, and because of these projects the public was put at risk - this is documented information. So that everyone knows all of my allegations have been found to be true...all not some! So the facts are this: Harrah's the largest gaming company in the world made a conscious choice to do major remodel work without permits, without inspections, and they left behind a very real Public "fire safety" issue for their Guests & employees...what a fine outstanding company. Other licensed Contractors in this City also made the choice to follow suit on these jobs and did not pull permits as required - making them no better than Harrah's in all this. I am requesting that the County Building Department ask the FBI to become involved in this and to open up an investigation to clear everything up. If Harrah's doesn't have anything to hide...and if they have been honest it will be business again as usual. In my last meeting with Virginia Valentine, three other County employees, and one witness of my own I revealed that I have already filed a formal complaint with the local FBI office, and the consensus was that under the circumstances this would probably be a good thing to have happen. Let the authorities decide on whether or not this is a criminal act - fair enough? LV Contractor wrote on October 19, 2007 02:16 PM: To the truth: Thanks for the info about Mr. Frazzetta's friend! Nice to see someone stand up and be counted. You're so right, people in the business know this is BS. Oh, and speaking of identities Fred, who is GOD? the truth wrote on October 18, 2007 09:44 PM: Sensationalism journalism at its best. The RJ is fighting it's hardest to keep this story alive. The fire system at Harrah's has passed multiple inspections, it is as good as anyone's on the strip. The remodel at the Harrah's property was a light remodel. Only big thing done was a cabinet added into the wall. The rest was your standard light remodel stuff. The permit for this job was skipped because getting through the building department can take ages and it was such a light remodel it was kinda borderline. This is standard on the Strip, Harrah's didn't do anything different that all the other major casino's do. The only thing not up to "code" on this job was the fire caulking for the pipes that run through each floor's bathroom. The catch is since it was such a light remodel this wall wasn't even opened up, but it was fire taped. Not having fire caulk on these pipes was code four years ago, but not today. Now this tower was built in 97'. Most towers on the Strip are at least 10 years old. How many things do you think are not up to code on any tower on the Strip older than four years? This whole thing is a load of crap and anyone in the business knows it. The RJ is trying to sell papers by attacking the largest casino company and Fred is just bitter. The Harrah's casino rooms are as safe as any room on the Strip. As far as his buddy that was let go...i wont even talk about him. Let's just say he scared everyone so badly nobody would work with him. LV Contractor wrote on October 18, 2007 09:49 AM: Mr. Frazzetta, since I’m not patting you on the back like most of the people here are I’m quite sure I would find you, or God forbid “GOD”, on one of my jobsites harassing myself and my employees. Don’t need it. Yes, I pull my permits. Yes, I get my inspections. Yes, my employees are working in a safe environment. Yes, I know there are federal laws protecting workers, I was curious what the asbestos levels actually were. So? Am I condoning the fact that Harrah’s did work without proper permits? No, I just think there is more going on here than meets the eye where you are concerned, I could be wrong. However, you never seem satisfied with what they are doing to remedy the situation. You answer the questions posted to you on this site that suit your needs and promote your cause. Stolen tools? Stolen light bulbs? (love it) Stolen reports? The other fellow supporting you in the newspaper, why is he no longer working for Harrah’s? Is it true you turned in your brother-in-law for work not permitted at his own home? I sincerely hope not. I cannot remember all questions and accusations that have been made, some here seem to dislike you intensely. I don’t dislike you, I’m curious about you. As someone pointed out these things have nothing to do with the “dangerous” conditions at Harrah’s but they do have something to do with your integrity and motives. PLEASE don’t assault everyone’s integrity again including my own, you’ve already done that quite well. Good day Mr. Frazzetta. Fred Frazzetta wrote on October 17, 2007 10:31 PM: LV Contractor, What does giving your name have to do with you keeping your business, and your employees keeping their jobs? Do you do illegal construction work without permits as well...if not how would you possibly lose your business? Revealing your company name would probably land you some work with Harrah's as they look for contractors that have the same ethics as they do! I find it interesting that you are obviously condoning the fact that Harrah's did these remodels without proper permits, and took shortcuts which jeorpardized the safety of their guests & employees. Why don't you get your facts straight...the walls are being opened so that they can be inspected now because of the illegal remodel work that Harrah's performed previously! You do realize that there are both state & federal laws that protect workers from exposure to asbestos in the workplace or are you another company that gives your employees their required asbestos classes after they are exposed rather than before? I would hide my identity as well if I was trying to defend Harrah's illegal activities as you are with all that has been documented thus far. Do the readers a favor, and let them know you company's name...so they can make the right decision not to use you for work in the future. LV Constractor wrote on October 17, 2007 10:03 PM: One more note. To GOD: Calm yourself. Attacking like this make you seem so.....huh, huh, what's the word I'm looking for???????.......BIZARRE! Fred Frazzetta wrote on October 17, 2007 09:59 PM: Sto-PM, Okay I am going to play your stupid little game...Harrah's did their illegal remodel projects leaving behind safety issues that had the potential to harm the guests of their hotels & employees, and they did this for the safety of everyone? I don't think so! I can't believe after all that has happened that you would insult the other readers by saying that Harrah's has the best of anything... It is pretty obvious that Gary Loveman has not made the right decisions because if he had Harrah's would not be in the mess that it is in. Harrah's has broken every ethical standard that supposedly their business is built on. According to you, I should applaud the fact that his wonderful team lied about the extent of the work at the Rio all the way up to the time that the walls were opened and my allegations were proven true. Are you telling the public that they should feel good about a company that knew about illegal remodel work at Harrah's Hotel, which again put people at risk, and just because they voluntarily closed rooms it is okay? You do realize that what they have done could be considered a criminal act...because they willfully put the public at risk. They made a conscious choice to break the law, and not only did they fail to pull proper permits, but they also took shortcuts in areas related to safety, which is documented now. If you have been around the Harrah's group for close to 20 years now, it says to me and probably some of the other readers that you have sat back and watched them do this illegal activity without uttering a word...which makes you no better than the people you are attempting to defend. Read All Comments