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.
The fire was reported at 12:35 p.m. Tuesday. The first New Orleans Fire Department crew was on the scene three minutes later.
NOFD twice upgraded their response to the blaze due to "the size, type of structure and the location of the fire." Twenty-three NOFD vehicles and 51 NOFD crew members ultimately responded to the three-alarm fire.
At 1:05 p.m., firefighters considered the fire 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.
Flames and black smoke could be seen on the roof of the Caesars Superdome from across the city of New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon.
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.
A photo released by the city of New Orleans showed three fire fighters standing on the concrete gutter tub spraying water on the melted edge of the Superdome roof.
New Orleans firefighters respond to a fire on the edge of the Caesars Superdome's roof, Sept. 21, 2021. (Photo courtesy of NOLA Ready)
Earlier this week crews had been pressure washing the 10-acre roof week to prepare it to be painted. The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District said in a prepared statement Tuesday that they believed a pressure washer being used to clean the roof caught fire, and that ignited the dome.
"The cause of the fire is considered accidental as a result of work being completed on the roof," an NOFD spokesperson wrote in a 2:12 p.m. press release.
Brazos Urethane, the contractor working on the roof this week, did not immediately comment on the fire.
Worker Jason Hurst was inside the dome when the fire broke out. He said he was doing sign installation in the southeast corner when he looked up and saw smoke coming from the ceiling.
An announcement came on the loudspeaker to evacuate, he said, and once outside he saw flames that he estimated were about six to ten feet high.
Another worker who was inside the building said he didn’t even realize it was on fire when people started texting him.
Smoke and flames were seen on the Superdome on Tuesday afternoon
“I got calls from my friends telling me it was on fire,” said the worker, who declined to provide his name.
Paramedics treated one patient for minor burns from the fire, according to Jonathan Fourcade of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. The person was brought by ambulance to University Medical Center.
A fire broke out on the roof of the Superdome on Tuesday afternoon. Smoke could be seen billowing off the roof from across the city of New Orleans.
The Saints do not play at home this weekend. The next scheduled home game is on Oct. 3 against the New York Giants. They have been practicing in Texas due to Hurricane Ida.
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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Staff writers Amie Just, Ramon Antonio Vargas and Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this story.
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