Las Vegas hotel fire fueled by ornamental trees not regulated by county codes

A fire that quickly engulfed a pool at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday was fueled by decorative trees that are not regulated by Clark County codes.

Current codes govern structures like pool decks and cabanas, but not plants and outdoor furniture, Ron Lynn, director of the county's Department of Building and Fire Prevention, told reporters Monday. The fire started in a cabana at the Bamboo Pool, then spread to the trees, which were made from high-density foam and plastic. One person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and another was treated at the scene. The fire was put out within 30 minutes, and the pool reopened Sunday.

Lynn said officials are still trying to get to the bottom of what caused the fire, and will likely take a close look at the role the trees played in the fire, the Las Vegas Sun reports. Lynn also said officials might need to establish new rules to control the use of fake trees.

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