NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Central Business District was abuzz on Tuesday afternoon as smoke and flames could be seen from miles away billowing from the roof of the Caesars Superdome.
The city tweeted that the New Orleans Fire Department was responding to the fire and requested for people to avoid the area until the situation has been resolved.
The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District and ASM Global issued a joint statement shortly after the fire was extinguished. The statement read:
“This afternoon a fire occurred on the exterior of the Caesars Superdome in the gutter tub of the roof. NOFD and venue first responders were dispatched immediately and extinguished the fire. Upon further investigation it appears that a pressure washer being used to clean the roof caught fire. Damage is still being assessed.”
According to WGNO Sports director Ed Daniels, all employees and contractors working in the Superdome were evacuated for approximately 30 minutes until it was safe to return.
The NOFD issued a report stating an initial 911 call was received at 12:35 p.m. with the first company arriving on the scene at 1500 Poydras Street just three minutes later when a second alarm was called. A third alarm was called at 12:55 p.m. as a precautionary measure.
The report also claims 23 NOFD units carrying 51 fire operations personnel were deployed to the scene of the fire which was placed under control at 1:05 p.m. The NOFD also collaborated an earlier tweet from NOLA EMS regarding a worker injured during the blaze.
The injured person was transported to University Medical Center to be treated for minor burns.
NOLA EMS also tweeted that the Superdome was still an active scene and to “please avoid the area”
Due to the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Ida throughout Southeast Louisiana, the Superdome has yet to host an NFL home game for the New Orleans Saints this season.
The Saints were expected to open their season in the dome against Green Bay on Sept. 12.
That game was moved, and the team was expected to return to the stadium in Week 4 against the New York Giants on Oct. 3. No word yet on whether or not that game will be played as scheduled.
