The Riviera Repurposed for “BackDraft Training”

As yours truly continues his first visit to Las Vegas since the launch of Vegas Bright, I turn my space over to our gifted photographer Greg Clarke. He penned this piece on the exciting and unusual happenings over at the recently-closed Riviera Hotel Casino.

The shuttered Riviera may sit dark and dead on the north Strip–but the property is far from lifeless. The sounds of heavy boots pounding up stairs and sharply-barked orders echoing down hallways fills one wing of the aging resort these days. At the former valet entrance, where once cars and taxis vied to drop off guests, men pile out of yellow fire engines to unload hoses and other firefighting gear in the August heat.

This is all part of a live-action joint training exercise conducted by the Clark County and Henderson Fire Departments. The Riviera’s San Remo tower has been turned into a realistic proving ground for learning the techniques of fighting fire in a high-rise setting–a crucial need in a city packed with towering hotels and condos.

Having the opportunity to practice in a real hotel building, complete with furnished rooms, is “priceless” according to Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell. Elevator rescues and the challenges of managing high-pressure water hose lines up stairwells are some of the skill sets being honed.

Meanwhile, as we told you recently at VegasChatter. the Board of Directors of the LVCVA has formally approved the demolition of the iconic property. The board will be seeking bids to conduct the tear-down which has an attached price tag of $42 million. It is expected that the process will be a combination of conventional demolition with heavy equipment on the low-rise structures, and the use of explosives to bring down the towers and parking garages. No specific dates have been set, just a ballpark of early to mid-2016.

In the interim, firefighters have plenty of time to practice their trade as the property is booked by various fire departments into November. At that time a national conference will be held on the site with fire agencies from around the nation. The usage of the Riviera allows them to practice without concern for things like water-logged carpeting, spray-painting targets on the building or knocking holes in walls–something that would make executives at MGM Resorts or CET (Caesars Entertainment) soil their suits.

Once the hoses stop spraying and the fire engines clear out, the sounds of jack hammering and crumbling mortar will be the norm. The finale will be the thunder of TNT in the night and the familiar sight of yet another Las Vegas landmark disappearing into a gray cloud of concrete dust. 

Photos: Greg C. for VegasBright, PortlandOregon.gov

sammasseur

A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.