LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County Fire Department found no issues with how the Trump International Hotel was evacuated after a car bomb exploded outside the property on New Year’s Day.
Matthew Livelsberger, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died by suicide during the explosion around 8:40 a.m. on Jan. 1. The explosion, which consisted of fireworks and consumer mortars in a Tesla Cybertruck, did little damage to the 64-story building’s porte-cochere. Firefighters then quickly extinguished the vehicle fire.
Several guests told 8 News Now that in the aftermath of the explosion and fire they received little information and were never told to evacuate.
“They could’ve set the fire alarms a couple of floors higher because we were at the top: the 56th floor,” guest Keylee Signorelli said. “They said they only set the alarm about three stories high.”
A spokesperson for CCFD confirmed the fire alarms sounded correctly per building code, which requires the alarms to sound on the floor where a fire is occurring and the ones immediately below and above it.
“In this case, alarms were sounding in the lobby due to sprinkler activation in the porte-cochere,” the spokesperson said. “Additionally, smoke detectors on the mezzanine level, which is the next level above the lobby, were activated and this, in turn, activated the alarms on the floor above, which is the pool deck level.”
The spokesperson added the county believed guests had the option of staying in their rooms or leaving the property once it was determined the fire was no longer a threat.
“The coordination with LVMPD, our regional partners and the hotel property was exceptional, and we appreciate the good working relationships we have all,” the spokesperson added.
County records show the hotel had no outstanding issues regarding building permits or its fire system.
Both The Trump Organization and businessman Phil Ruffin own the building. A spokesperson for Trump Hotels did not respond to requests for comment.
