Origin of false fire reports not clear

A news alert e-mailed by KVBC-TV, Channel 3 about 18 minutes after the Monte Carlo fire erupted Jan. 25 might have been the source of the false reports of mass hotel evacuations by local and national outlets.

Vegas Confidential obtained a copy of the news alert, which was sent at 11:15 a.m.

It read: "Guests of the Monte Carlo, Bellagio and New York-New York are being evacuated because of the blaze atop the Monte Carlo. Stay with News 3 for the latest."

KVBC news director Deborah Clayton said the station's webmaster indicated that "it appears to be one of our e-mails. It should have read 'Guests of the Monte Carlo are being evacuated to Bellagio and New York-New York,' which is how we correctly reported it on air."

The source of the trapped workers report isn't quite clear, although Holly Steuart, vice president and general manager at KVVU-TV, Channel 5, indicated in an e-mail last week that "our reporting of workers on the roof was sourced on reports coming from our network, Fox News, and (Fox 5 anchor Monica Jackson) attributed the information correctly."

KLAS-TV, Channel 8 anchor Gary Waddell, a veteran of the 1980 MGM Grand fire, delivered some of the most restrained reporting.

About 45 minutes into the fire, at 12:40 p.m., he told viewers, "There are some reports that people are trapped and we're hearing that the Bellagio and MGM Grand are being evacuated and those are not correct."

Between 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. he stated on air that national mentions of trapped workers were "not confirmed, not corroborated and I'm sort of doubting that."

Waddell called me last week to say that he did not criticize KVVU-TV, Channel 5, which had mentioned the trapped workers and evacuations.

When I called Waddell last Saturday to discuss the fire coverage, I asked him to confirm that he had criticized "Fox coverage." I was referring to the local Fox station, which is an affiliate of Fox News network, not Fox News Channel, the cable network.

Waddell assumed I was referring to Fox Network and confirmed he had questioned the coverage but declined to elaborate. Hence, the mix-up.

FNC briefly aired Jackson's audio with KTNV-TV, Channel 13's video feed.

KLAS captured the final Nielsen ratings, winning seven quarter hours to runner-up KVBC's four. KTNV-TV, Channel 13 won one quarter hour. KVVU, the only station without a helicopter, was shut out.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

That Siegfried & Roy tell-all by former employee Jim Lavery has been delayed to this spring. The author, Henrietta Tiefenthaler, co-authored "Train Wreck: The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith" with Donna Hogan, Smith's half sister.

There's buzz in the restaurant world that star chefs Mario Batali and Paul Bartolotta, who both have Las Vegas restaurants, squared off on "Iron Chef" last May. The episode will air in June.

Batali just launched Carnevino, at Palazzo after opening B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian last year. Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare is one of the most successful restaurants at Wynn Las Vegas.

SIGHTINGS

Barry Bonds, roundly booed when he was shown on the scoreboard Saturday at UFC 81 at Mandalay Bay. Also in the crowd: Ken Griffey Jr., Jay-Z with Chuck Liddell and George St. Pierre and pro wrestling legends "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Undertaker and Kurt Angle to watch Brock Lesnar's battle against Frank Mir. ... Derek Jeter, playing blackjack at $800 a hand at the Playboy Club (Palms) early Saturday. ... In a VIP skybox at the 40/40 club: Sacramento Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof, watching the Kings-Bulls game with Bonds, one of just four players in baseball's exclusive 40-40 club (40 homers and 40 stolen bases). ... Siegfried and Roy, in the audience at "Variety Live! Direct from The London Palladium" (Suncoast) on Friday. ... Dominic Allen of Foreigner, joining the Scintas on stage Friday at the Hilton for "Hot Blooded."