Recent visitors at Italy’s largest theme park had a very scary experience as they watched flames and thick black smoke rise beneath a popular roller coaster. Videos recorded at Gardaland show people moving away as the fire rapidly spreads through a wooden structure.
The fire broke out shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, in the park’s Far West-themed area. A wooden tower located beneath the tracks of the Raptor roller coaster was engulfed in flames.
Gardaland’s emergency crews began clearing the area before firefighters arrived and brought the fire under control. Thankfully, no guests or employees were injured during the incident.
Raptor was temporarily closed while firefighters finished their work, but the rest of Gardaland remained open. The coaster reopened the following afternoon after safety checks were completed.
Visitors Were Moved Away From the Fire
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Videos shared online show flames several feet high and a column of black smoke visible throughout the park. Visitors were directed away from the area without panic as emergency crews responded, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
Firefighters from nearby Bardolino arrived with two vehicles after Gardaland’s internal teams began battling the flames. The fire was extinguished quickly, although crews remained at the scene to prevent it from reigniting.
The wooden tower was part of the park’s Far West area rather than the roller coaster itself. Corriere del Veneto reported that the cause had not been determined immediately after the fire.
Raptor Reopened the Following Day
Raptor reopened on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 29. Gardaland had closed the attraction in the morning as a precaution while the area was inspected.
Raptor opened in 2011 and was the first wing coaster created by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. Riders sit beside the track rather than directly above or below it, leaving their feet suspended in the air.
The Gardaland attraction rises to approximately 108 feet and reaches speeds of nearly 56 mph. It also turns riders upside down three times during the course.