Superdome roof catches fire in New Orleans; one injured with minor burns
NEW ORLEANS -- Smoke and flames shot through the side of the Superdome's roof on Tuesday as crews worked to clean and prepare the New Orleans sports and entertainment arena for painting.
The New Orleans Fire Department confirmed firefighters responded to flames on the building's roof shortly after 12:30 p.m. The fire appeared to be under control a short time later.
New Orleans Emergency Management Services said on Twitter that they were transporting one person to the hospital for "minor burns." Emergency officials called on people to stay away from the area.
Crews were power washing the roof this week to prepare it to be painted, officials said.
The fire happened in a section of Superdome roofing called the "gutter tub," according to a joint statement from ASM Global, which manages the Superdome, and the Louisiana Stadium and Expedition District, which is a state board that governs the dome. The statement added that the damage is superficial, and so far it did not appear that the structural integrity of the iconic New Orleans sporting and entertainment venue had been compromised.
A photo posted on the city's emergency management Twitter feed showed firefighters in the trench that separates the Superdome roof from an outer wall as they sprayed down the fire-blackened walls.
"The fire was contained to the exterior gutter system surrounding the Superdome, and only a small area of the roof suffered minimal damage," ASM Global and the LSED said in their joint statement. "Pressure washing was underway to clean the roof before a planned re-coating of the entire roof itself. Any fire damage will be addressed during the re-coating process."
The NFL's New Orleans Saints have regularly played home games at the venue, often drawing capacity crowds. The Superdome also has been the site of seven Super Bowls in recent decades, and is also used for concerts, college football and other events.
ASM Global officials said in their statement that they do not believe there will be any impact on future events, including the team's next home game scheduled for Oct. 3 against the New York Giants.
The team's final preseason home game slated for Aug. 28 was canceled due to impending Hurricane Ida, which made landfall the next day. Since the storm, the team has been practicing in the Dallas area. The team's Sept. 12 game against the Green Bay Packers was moved to Jacksonville, Florida, out of concerns for the city's wider infrastructure and Dome staff although the Dome itself was not damaged during Ida.
In 2005, the Superdome was used as a shelter of last resort for those unable to evacuate the city before Hurricane Katrina struck. The building housed up to 30,000 people seeking shelter but it didn't withstand the storm's impact. Winds tore a hole in its roof, sending water onto the dome's field. The building was operating on generators, which only powered the lights. Levees protecting the city had failed, sending tons of water throughout the city. Pumping stations couldn't keep up, and as a result, up to 6 feet (2 meters) of water surrounded the dome.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report
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