A Six Flags Coverup?

I like my Explorer for sentimental reasons.

I for one am never going back because I'm too scared. Death in a Haunted House? Isn't that basically what they threaten you with before you go in anyway?

Brian, who's taking no chances.

Just found my newspaper clipping of the fire, and it's dated Sunday, May 13, 1984. According to the article, the accident happened on the previous Friday night. The Haunted Castle was built out of 17 metal trailers without a single fire sprinkler in the whole attraction. The article also states the attraction had been open since 1978.

There is a picture and some information about the fire here(look about half way down the page). *** Edited 2/14/2004 6:52:03 PM UTC by person***

"included synthetic foam, various fabrics and plastics, plywood and tarpaper. "

Apart from the things Rollergater pointed out, I've been involved with a local haunted house for the past three years, and I can tell you from direct hands-on experience that most synthetic foams burn like a candle and can be difficult to fire retard. Furthermore certain fabrics resist fire retardant and those that don't need to be submerged, not simply sprayed. Finally the use of plastics (esspecially black plastic) as a construction medium is strictly forbidden within our city limits.

That's a big screw up regardless of whatever else happened. It doesn't suprise me that they would try to cover it up. Or at least attempt to divert blame. *** Edited 2/15/2004 4:26:59 AM UTC by Phyter***

Actually, codes change. In the 1970's when the Haunted House was built, the use of those materials may have been (and probably was) allowed.

Personally I don't see any "cover up". I know growing up in the area, it was certainly all over the news, down to the revelation that foam rubber was ignited by a lighter (see my earlier post in this thread). It's not like this is something Six Flags is going to tout, but it's not some big secret. Maybe it didn't achieve the kind of national coverage it would get nowadays, but the media wasn't quite as aggressive back then (and had bigger fish to fry than some teens getting killed in a local fire -- tragic, but not national headline material at the time). *** Edited 2/15/2004 6:32:36 AM UTC by GregLeg***

They said on the video if they had a fire sprinkler system, they would have been enough to stop the fire. They also gated off 2 areas where actors could lead guest to exits.

They stated that they were unhappy about no memorial being put up. Then he said well I guess you could look at this as a memorial. He points the Castle Escape Building. A new 3D haunted house where u have to escape a burning haunted mansion! ODD!

The thing is Greg, I *do* see a cover-up of sorts....just NOT a Six Flags cover-up, more one where the local codes enforcement people were negligent and tried to cover THEIR own tracks. I know that the laws then weren't as strict as they are now, but the laws *even then* were probably sufficient to prevent this disaster....IF they had been properly enforced. A trailer IS a way bigger fire hazard than a normal permanent structure...even today.

SF may have taken steps that incresed the likelihood of this disaster, but where was the Fire Marshal's office...aren't they the ones who should've been able to foresee this, even more than "some theme park".

From a marketing aspect, can't say I blame SF for not *hyping* the incident.