Officials investigate fire that damaged Rye Playland's Dragon Coaster
Fire officials said the blaze broke out around 8:50 p.m. Saturday in the lift area, about halfway up the coaster.
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A fire that damaged Rye Playland’s iconic Dragon Coaster is under investigation, with officials saying repairs are expected to take about three weeks.
Fire officials said the blaze broke out around 8:50 p.m. Saturday in the lift area, about halfway up the coaster.
The damage was concentrated around a walkway. It's in the area where a chain brings the ride to the top of the hill. The rest of the coaster utilizes gravity.
No injuries were reported. Crews brought the fire under control within 15 minutes.
"It had the potential to develop into a larger and more complex fire. Thankfully, due to that rapid response by the Rye Fire Department, it was quickly brought under control," said Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
County officials said people attending a nearby Italian festival spotted smoke and alerted authorities.
“We also did have the Italian festival that was here, which actually added additional eyes and we were able to be alerted very quickly that there was something amiss and then we addressed it as quickly as possible," said Acting Westchester County Parks and Recreation Commissioner William Bland.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials promise the Dragon Coaster will be up and running next season.
