Updated at the bottom with the fire out at 2:08 p.m. The park says it started as a result of work on the coaster.
L.A. County Fire Department crews were battling a blaze at Magic Mountain's wooden Colossus roller coaster today.
Crews took a defensive stance as flames ripped up the 1,000-foot structure, Steve Guerrero of the department old L.A. Weekly.
No injuries were reported:
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The 36-year-old ride closed in August and was undergoing renovation which would transform it into a double-helix, steel-and-wood hybrid that would be “he longest, most innovative hybrid coaster in the world,” the Valencia park said in a statement.
The remixed ride, Twisted Colossus, wasn't expected to open until next year.
Asked if work on the coaster might be the cause of today's blaze, Guerrero said, “That could possibly be something.”
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Crews were called at 1:30 p.m. about the blaze and were on scene at 1:36 p.m., he said. Four engines, one spray unit and one squad were on scene when we spoke to him.
Flames and smoke could be seen from far and wide.
We reached out to a Magic Mountain spokeswoman but had yet to hear back.
Magic Mountain on fire pic.twitter.com/AUrNFzg0Mm
— Austin Ivansmith (@IvanDashSmith) September 8[Update at 2:22 p.m.]: Inspector Scott Miller of the L.A. County Fire Department tells us the fire was officially declared “knocked down” at 2:08 p.m. No injuries were reported.
He said fire investigators planned to meet with Magic Mountain officials to help determined what happened. A key question, he said, was whether there were workers on-site when a top portion of the coaster went up in flames.
The park was closed today, so it appeared that no guests were not in danger.
[Added at 2:37 p.m.]: Check out amazing video of the fire captured by KTLA News.
[Update at 2:50 p.m.]: A park spokeswoman confirmed in a statement that the fire was started as a result of work being done on the coaster:
It was started while work was being done to disassemble the ride. The park was closed today and there were no injuries. Colossus has been closed since August 17 for renovation.
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