Universal Orlando Ride Evacuated After Fire
- Posted on January 2, 2011 at 1:07am by
Scott Baker
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An island ride at Universal Orlando Resort was evacuated Saturday after a fire engulfed a roof structure under which the ride carries visitors. No major injuries were reported.
Park spokesman Tom Schroder said an employee noticed smoke rising from Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, a log float ride at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, around 5 p.m. Saturday. The theme park is part of the resort, which also includes Universal Studios.
Schroder said staff shut down the ride and evacuated visitors from the surrounding area. He said “our guests were on the ride,” but that he did not know whether any passengers were carried under the roof when it was on fire.
“That type of material puts out a lot of black smoke,” Orlando Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hoggatt told the Orlando Sentinel.
About 40 firefighters responded to the fire, which was brought under control in about a half-hour. Hoggatt told the newspaper that investigators were looking into whether an electrical problem triggered the blaze.
The fire department referred phone calls late Saturday to Universal Orlando.
It was unclear how many people had to be evacuated. Schroder said the Orlando fire department assisted a small number of visitors who said they had inhaled smoke.
The ride remains shut down while the blaze is under investigation. Schroder said he did not have a damage estimate or know when the ride would reopen.
“We’re still reviewing that. Too soon (to say) tonight,” he said late Saturday.
But he said the area known as Toon Lagoon, which includes the log float ride, reopened Saturday evening. The theme park itself also remains open.
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ilovethiscountry
Posted on January 3, 2011 at 3:58pmWe have been there at this time of year and didn’t make it into the park. I love the log rides. I hope they find the problem and get it open soon.
Report Post »22
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 6:24amI just got back from there friday evening. The crowds were massive and that area in front of the ride was one of the lines to get into Harry Potter World. People were waiting up to 5 hours just to get in. I feel sorry for the staff and fire crews that had to get to that ride, we actually left a day early because of all the over crowding and the rude guests from overseas.
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 9:58amI hope you had a great time. As you probably now know, the week between Christmas and New Years is, by far, the busiest week in Orlando. Next time wait a couple of weeks and you can pretty much walk right on everything.
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 4:38amI thought that cig I tossed went out. ooops
Report Post »DMD
Posted on January 3, 2011 at 5:01amNeed to sue Micky for a pack of smokes
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 4:14am“The ride remains shut down while the blaze is under investigation.”.I can see the Headline in Huffington post. Dumb libs.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 5:53amHeadlines HP: “Tea-Party burns ride because the president is black”
Report Post »be1776
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 12:25pmWait, where is Chris Christie? Wasn’t he just there the other day. It MUST of been his fault. Why is he not on the first plane out of NJ to deal with this horrendous crisis? Shame on him and his union busting ways.
Report Post »Republic Under God
Posted on January 3, 2011 at 4:27pmI think he was reffering to “…the blaze is under investigation…”
Report Post »hkyfan36
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 1:43amMy son was just there yesterday playing in the electric light parade.
Report Post »COMMIESSUCK
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 1:28amOh no! I love that ride! Best water ride i’ve ever been. Long ride, very steep final drop and you get drenched!
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 8:04amIt figures, the wife and I are going there i two weeks, so it will still be shut down. She wants to go to Universal, we haven’t been there since it opened. Now were taking the grandkids.
Report Post »Nobody was hurt, that’s good.
Cemoto78
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 8:41amWhere was Alan Grayson during this time? He might have been playing with matches again like he did while in Congress.
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