Caesars Superdome roof is on fire down in New Orleans
In the midst of recovering from a hurricane, a fire broke out on the roof of the Caesars Superdome, the home stadium for the New Orleans Saints.
As New Orleans recovers from Hurricane Ida, disaster struck again on Tuesday afternoon when a fire broke out on the roof of the newly-named Caesars Superdome, the home stadium for the New Orleans Saints.
#BREAKING
— Kelsey Davis (@KelseyDavisNews) September 21, 2021
There appears to be a fire on the roof of the @CaesarsDome #NewOrleans #Superdome pic.twitter.com/RwMwsjFWSU
Kelsey Davis of Fox8 shared the breaking news with a video of the fire on the roof. Once the fire was put out, Davis shared updates as well as the presumed cause of the fire. One person has been reported as being injured with “minor burns” as emergency responders arrived at the scene.
Not seeing the smoke or flames anymore, but there is a massive hole now in the roof @FOX8NOLA @CaesarsDome https://t.co/uZ4VieLmvZ
— Kelsey Davis (@KelseyDavisNews) September 21, 2021
Doug Thornton, the VP of stadiums for ASM Global which manages the Superdome, tells me via text that the fire at the stadium started “in the gutter tub” on the roof while workers were there pressure washing it and “is under control.” NOFD is on the scene.
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) September 21, 2021
1:20pm Update: The fire is now under control. @NOLAFireDept & heavy @CityOfNOLA public safety presence working the scene. Please continue to avoid the area.
— NOLA Ready (@nolaready) September 21, 2021
Final update:#NOEMS transported one worker to UMC in stable condition with minor burns to face, arms and chest.
— New Orleans EMS (@NewOrleansEMS) September 21, 2021
Fire breaks out on the roof of the New Orleans Superdome
While the source of the fire is vaguely described as originating in the roof’s gutter tub during pressure-washing, one Twitter user indicates that a gas-powered pressure washer could easily catch flame near combustible materials.
You can’t put a gas powered running pressure washer next to combustible materials, come on people this is basic stuff!
— Dsim16241 (@dsimeon) September 21, 2021
The Superdome, which has hosted Saints games since 1975, was unable to host the Saints’ Week 1 home game versus the Green Bay Packers, having to instead open the season at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field.
The Saints were then set with away games in Week 2 and Week 3, heading up to Foxborough this Sunday to face the New England Patriots. When the Saints return to host the New York Giants in Week 4, they will be hosting them at the Caesars Superdome.
It seems that the fire has been handled swiftly and accordingly by the city of New Orleans, but it’s one of a litany of issues for the Saints in recent years. The New Orleans team was also forced to shutter the Superdome in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The arrival of head coach Sean Payton and longtime quarterback Drew Brees a year later signaled a rebirth for the city, later resulting in the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory and several playoff berths.
Despite recent success, the legend still persists that the Saints home field is cursed by a nearby cemetery — and Saints fans have been swiftly reminded of their unlucky past after a Week 2 beatdown in Charlotte.
Ideally, the Superdome fire is the last of the problems this franchise faces before finally having their first true home game.