The Caesars Superdome caught fire Tuesday afternoon, with open flames and smoke billowing from the edge of its iconic roof as New Orleans firefighters rushed to respond to the blaze.
A little before 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, the New Orleans Fire Department said they were heading to a three-alarm fire at the building. At least eight fire trucks were staged along Girod Street and Dave Dixon Drive, the streets that run along the Uptown side of the dome.
A little after 1:00 p.m. the fire appeared to be under control, and smoke and flames were no longer visible. There was a black burn mark that marred a tiny fraction of the massive roof.
According to Doug Thornton, vice president of ASM Global, the company that manages the Superdome for the state, the fire occurred on the “gutter tub” which runs around the base of the roof. Thornton said it didn’t appear that the structural integrity of the building had been compromised and that they were currently assessing the damage.
See pictures of the fire and the damage below….
