The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 The only story I've found so far: http://www.wowktv.com/story/22893877/crews-on-the-scene-of-a-structure-fire-at-camden-park Very sad news. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Holy cow! This has not been a good few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI FANATIC 37 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Wow. This will hurt Camden Park. Sad to hear. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 I am told there is video on FaceBook, and it is very bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI FANATIC 37 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 I will try to find it real quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBEASTunchained Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Ouch! Very sad to hear..... Not good news for Camden at all. It looks like Big Dipper was going down in flames! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 I'm hearing not. Dodg'm, maintenance building and Men's restroom. Why do you think it was the Big Dipper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayzayd13 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 This week has not been a good week for amusement parks across the country. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Here's a map of the general area of the reported fire. Channel 12 (WBOY) reports that crews found one building on fire (the building adjacent to the restroom. I've seen no reports of whether Dodgem or Whip were affected. . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBEASTunchained Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 I'm hearing not. Dodg'm, maintenance building and Men's restroom. Why do you think it was the Big Dipper? I'm not sure due to the fact that the picture is blurry but I was basing that off of this picture within the news articles.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJenkins Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 I am a long time reader of this site. I have found a video on Facebook. Credit goes to Mr. Damron. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=679124788769912 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 ^^Unchained I agree the photo does make it look like the coaster is on fire. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI FANATIC 37 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Big Dipper is at the front of the park right by the road. Dodgems are near the back middle part of the park near the train and Swan ride. If any coaster was damaged it would have been the Little Dipper, but it's on the other side of the walkway so think it's safe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Examining ChrisJenkins' link to Mr. Damron's video. Sadly, the silhouette of the structure that's on fire matches the shape of the Dodgem ride's sign and structure. I'll edit with the comparison shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 That building is cinder block. Very little there would burn. It must have been one heck of a fire, most probably either electrical or arson. This is sad. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI FANATIC 37 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Just a neat little fact about that area, there is actually a Indian Burial Ground right behind the building that caught fire. Just thought I would contribute that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 That's to the left of the Whip and maintenance building while looking from the Whip. From left to right, mound, maintenance building, Dodg'm, Men's restroom, midway, train station with kiddy pony ride and pink women's restroom in front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster.Rider.Kings Island Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Thats sad news, I was just at Camden Park a few weeks ago 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 A quick analysis of a still from the Damron video... The sign on the Dodgem is tiered, other buildings don't seem to have this feature. Note the sign on the Whip at left in both the fire footage and the Google Map aerial. The temporary, blue structure in the middle of the midway seems to have been removed since the aerial was taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 The building to the left is the maintenance building, an old Steelox building. The right building is the Men's restroom. The building in the lower left of the photo on the right is the Whip building, an older arched, wooden structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 It has been confirmed in an update to Terp's original link. The Dodgem is a total loss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 If the maintenance building is severely damaged, the park probably cannot function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 The updated article from your original post states that they plan to reopen on Tuesday, without the 1940's-era legend. No one was injured, which is good news. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 Elecrical, as I feared. The roof was wooden, and that's apparently the major source of the fuel for the fire. Apparently, they hope to open Tuesday. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jandyb79 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 I just rode the dodgem on the 6th and haven't even had time to write up a trip report...I nearly cried this morning when my sister sent me this video Another childhood memory up in smoke :/ So so sad! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI FANATIC 37 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 It is very sad. I remember my dad and I would always ride that. Its a shame this happened. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 WSAZ, uncharacteristically very late: http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/One-Ride-Destroyed-after-Fire-at-Camden-Park-216345811.html Attributed to a power surge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoeter Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Sad to hear this and hope they can recover from it. I passed through Huntington on my way to Beckley for a funeral a couple of weeks ago and remembered seeing signs for it on I-64. Didn't realize until I checked back in on here exactly what the place was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 So sad! Fortunately, damage was limited, and it did not spread to the maintenance or Whip buildings. Its especially sad given the age of the Dodg`em ride. Hopefully they will rebuild it, although it will never be able to replace the ride destroyed by the fire. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jandyb79 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 That is indeed fortunate Robby! Given the size of the blaze and the close proximity of the other rides surrounding the dodgem, it is a miracle the damage was isolated! I guess we won't truly know until more details are revealed in the next days/weeks however. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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