21, 1980, 85 people had been killed, 650 others were injured, and the once-lavish casino floor was nothing more than charred cinder and melted rubbish. By the time the last smoldering ember was extinguished on Nov. The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino fire only lasted 90 minutes-but nearly 40 years later, its legacy remains. How gambling on fire protection contributed to the deadliest event in Nevada history