Fire breaks out at Cal-Neva

CRYSTAL BAY, Nev. ‹ Area fire crews responded to an electrical fire at the

Cal Neva Casino and Resort at North Tahoe's state line, controlling the

blaze within minutes after arriving.

No one was injured in the fire, said Bob Marcil, general manager of the

resort, which started and was contained at about 4:40 p.m. to a room on the

second floor of the resort's tower.

"One of the bathroom fixtures shorted, which activated a the sprinklers and

alarm system," Marcil said.

According to North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Public information

officer Tia Rancourt, the fire was reported at about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Representatives from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, North

Tahoe Fire Protection District, Sierra Fire Protection District and Washoe

County Sheriff's Office responded and began evacuating the resort's tower.

Rancourt said fire crews quickly controlled the blaze, and from there

assessed the tower's third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh floors for

smoke damage.

This is the second time within the past right months multiple emergency

responders were dispatched to the Cal Neva.

In September 2008, emergency personnel responded to call of smoke coming

from the resort's kitchen.

A malfunctioning 1960s-era air conditioning system, located below the

resort's kitchen, was at fault. A small amount of Freon ‹ deemed not a

health hazard by the Placer County Hazardous Materials tea ‹ also escaped

from the conditioner during the incident.

The resort was evacuated, and no one was hurt during the incident.