St. Louis casino evacuated after fire

ST. LOUIS -- About 1,000 people were evacuated from Harrah's St. Louis Casino and Hotel on Sunday morning after a fire started inside an exterior wall.

Pattonville Fire Department battalion chief Robert Murray said the casino called around 9 a.m. saying smoke was filling a stairwell. The fire broke through the building's outer wall and was quickly extinguished by a crew waiting outside, Murray said.

Murray said no one was injured and the guests were allowed back inside after about 45 minutes. He said most of the damage was minimal and limited to the outer wall.

Firefighters believe the source of the fire was a cigarette thrown into mulch.