AAO 2015 Opens as Scheduled Despite Convention Center Fire

Update (6:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13):

The AAO 2015 exhibition will open as planned at 9 a.m. Saturday, following a fire at the Sands Expo exhibit hall Thursday night. Convention center, Academy staff and exhibitors worked through the night and all day Friday to clean up damage from the fire. 

While the fire was confined to just one booth, about 60 booths sustained smoke or water damage. Workers replaced carpeting and booth displays, and all affected vendors will be able to participate in the exhibit.

Original article:

Fire Damages Some AAO 2015 Conference Center Booths

A fire in the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas damaged the exhibit hall Thursday evening, but the conference will open Friday as scheduled with Subspecialty Day sessions. 

The damage was confined to an area of about 60 exhibitors booths in Hall B. The exhibit hall has about 600 booths. 

Affected exhibitors are being contacted by the Academy.

No one was injured in the fire, which was reported at about 8:15 p.m., and the cause is under investigation. 

For updates, check AAO.org or follow the Academy's Twitter feed.