Over 40 years ago, the Las Vegas Strip was the site of what would become the third-worst hotel fire in modern U.S. history and what remains as the worst disaster in the history of the state of Nevada.

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On an early morning in November of 1980, a small fire broke out in a restaurant in what was - at the time - the MGM Grand Hotel (now Bally's).  The fire quickly spread, engulfing the casino level and sending thick black smoke & toxic fumes to the upper floors of the hotel.  In the end, 85 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured.

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But what exactly caused the fire and led to such widespread fatalities & injuries?  And what changes were made to ensure that something like this could never happen again?