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A midmorning fire hit the Monte Carlo hotel-casino rooftop, forcing guests and gambling patrons to flee. Emergency personnel said 17 people sustained minor injuries in the confusion, as peopled dodged flaming debris falling down from the rooftop to the Vegas strip below.

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The Monte Carlo hotel was nearly full with a midday crowd and almost nine hundred workers working the shift. Most were evacuated safely, while 17 people were treated for minor injuries, mainly due to smoke inhalation.

The fire started on the roof of the hotel, which began shortly before 11 a.m. took one hour to control. The fire raged across the façade mounted on the roof; it was made of foam, and pieces of it melted off one side and started some fires below. The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

It was reported that welders were working and making some repairs on the building roof that morning. The blaze was confined largely to the rooftop and the upper floors, which houses the luxury suites and penthouses.

Hotel employees banged on doors and told guests to vacate the hotel. There was an orderly evacuation and no one needed to be rescued, according the Clark County fire chief.

Some guests did complain that they did not hear any fire alarms go off, and learned about the fire only on television. The delay may have been due to the external location of the fire on the roof; the smoke was not picked up by smoke detectors until much later.

The Monte Carlo hotel is the 13th biggest hotel in Las Vegas, with 3,002 rooms and 211 suites. There was no news about when it would reopen. Officials estimate the hotel will lose over $1 million for every day it remains closed.

Safety Tips:

• When staying in a hotel, make sure you devise a plan of escape in case of emergencies. Familiarize yourself with the location of exits and fire escapes.

• Test the doors of exits to check if they are locked. If so, call the front desk and tell them about it. Locked exit doors will make a death trap in case of fire.

• Take note of the locations of fire safety equipment, such as alarms, extinguishers, and hoses.

• If there is a fire, do not immediately rush out into the hallway; feel the door (not the door knob) with the back side (not the palm) of your hand first. A warm door could indicate fire in the hallway.

• If door is not warm, open the door slowly but be fully prepared to slam it back shut, just in case. If hallway is clear, head for the fire exit (not the elevator). Avoid smoke and carbon monoxide by staying close to the floor; crawl if necessary.

• If unable to leave the room, try every means to inform somebody that you are in the room. Call the hotel operator or the local fire department. If you cannot call, hang a bed sheet outside the window to signal people below.

• Keep everything in the room wet. Fill the bathtub with water. Stuff wet towels and sheets around vents and gaps in the door to prevent smoke from entering the room.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a wet towel to prevent smoke from entering your lungs.