JACKSON — A fire that began in a lighting fixture under the Lakeside Grandstand at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, Route 537, on April 23 was quickly extinguished.
The theme park was closed at the time the fire was discovered. Patrons had left for the day.
“The fire was discovered by park employees during the evening of April 23 and the Six Flags fire department was on location within minutes,” Jackson Bureau of Fire Prevention Fire Inspector Wallace W. Jamison said. “Once Six Flags fire department Capt. Matthew Jordan realized it was an active fire, he immediately called for the Cassville Fire Company No. 1 to respond.”
Officials said the fire originated in a florescent light in a hallway under the grandstand, and the light diffuser melted and landed on the concrete floor below. The fire was quickly extinguished by the Six Flags personnel, Jamison said.
Once the Cassville firefighters arrived on location, they assisted with smoke removal and checked for further extension using thermal imaging cameras.
Jamison said the grandstand structure has a full sprinkler system, but he said the fire did not generate enough heat to activate the sprinkler system before the fire was discovered, attesting to the quick response of the theme park’s fire department.
Jamison said physical damage was limited to the light fixture and smoke generated throughout the east side of the grandstand.
The fire was investigated by the Jackson Bureau of Fire Prevention, Fire District 2, and was determined to be accidental in nature.