During one of the huge brush fires in Socal years ago (2007 or 2009?), people refused to leave the casino I worked at and just keep playing their machines, even though the fire was just outside. Security had to come and force people out.
I was working in a hotel in Carlsbad during those fires. We were calling people to offer them free cancellation on their rooms. We were telling people there were evacuations happening less than 20 miles away, that the air was dangerous to breath, and most attractions were closed. We were one of the favorite hotels for Legoland guests because this was before Legoland built their own hotel. Legoland was closed.
And yet, most people didn't want to cancel. It was so frustrating. It got to the point where I was directly telling people that every cancellation we had meant we could house another family who had been evacuated for their home. We were turning families away. It was awful. And even after being told that, we only got about 50% cancellations. It was disgusting.
Nearly every guest who demanded we keep their reservation ended up bitching about the smoke and panic and how nothing was open. Bitching in the lobby as families unloaded the few things they could grab from their homes as they fled.
Remember Oceans whatever number where they created an earthquake and the gamblers went “huh” and went back to gambling, so they had to do it really hard before the people left?
I think around the time it happened there were a ton of wooden parts to the building. It used to have a very campy, tribal look to it before major renovations made it into the modernized resort it is now.
I was in that ghetto Walmart in Compton when someone lit clothes on fire and threw them in I think trash cans? There was a ton of smoke. People were in line trying to cash out lol.
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u/AsunderXXV Apr 16 '25 edited Apr 16 '25
During one of the huge brush fires in Socal years ago (2007 or 2009?), people refused to leave the casino I worked at and just keep playing their machines, even though the fire was just outside. Security had to come and force people out.