Shortly before 8:00 p.m. on May 21, 1974, a fire broke out at the casino. Nine fire units responded; 35 firefighters battled the fire for several hours, during which a section of South Las Vegas Boulevard had to be closed. The fire was visible for several miles throughout the Las Vegas Valley. The casino was destroyed, although firefighters successfully saved most of the money attached to the casino's walls. The fire was believed to have been caused by an air conditioner. Stupak's insurance company, the San Francisco-based Fireman's Fund American Insurance Company, suspected Stupak of arson and filed a suit against him in June 1975, alleging that he burned down his casino to collect insurance money of $300,000. The insurance company eventually settled the claim.