LAS VEGAS >> Authorities say employees armed with fire extinguishers put out a fire inside a giant downtown Las Vegas casino sign before it amounted to much.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Spokesman Tim Szymanski says early reports of smoke Friday morning suggested an outdoor stage near the Four Queens Hotel & Casino might be on fire.

But crews found the fire was actually inside the marquee itself, and Four Queens employees had doused it before firefighters came on scene.

Investigators say an electrician had been working on the sign, and some debris that accumulated inside of it caught on fire.

Nobody was injured. Damage was estimated at less than $500.