Fire Prompts Evacuation Of Part Of Mystic Lake

PRIOR LAKE  (AP) -- A fire sparked by a construction worker prompted an evacuation of part of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel.

There were no injuries when the fire started about 9:30 a.m. Thursday in an area of the casino that's being remodeled.

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Tribal Administrator Bill Rudnicki says the area was already off limits to customers due to the construction. But customers in nearby areas were moved to another part of the casino.

Mystic Lake Casino spokesman Bryan Prettyman says several hundred people were evacuated from about half of the casino's gaming area. The rest of the facility is operating as normal.

Rudnicki says the fire started when a worker was cutting steel, and a spark ignited roof insulation. By 10:15 a.m., crews were already cleaning up. Damage estimates weren't immediately known.

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