Two popular Lagoon attractions a total loss after crews battle pair of blazes
Dec 19, 2021, 4:18 PM | Updated: 6:04 pm
FARMINGTON, Utah — An investigation is underway at Lagoon Amusement Park after fire crews battled two blazes in the same spot hours apart. The flames burned down two popular attractions, leaving the park to figure out what it’ll take to rebuild.
In the main thoroughfare of Lagoon Sunday morning, heavy equipment broke up a large pile of rubble. It contained the charred remnants of decades of fond memories and family fun, as well as a piece of Lagoon history.
“Very much appreciated by the customers, and Lagoon themselves take a lot of pride in it,” Chief Guido Smith of the Farmington City Fire Department said.
Lagoon Amusement Park posted photos that show what the colorful, quaint Carousel Candy shop used to look like. Whimsical and historic carousel animals lined the walls, serving as a border for shop displays, featuring an array of sweets.
Saturday morning, Smith said Lagoon employees smelled something inside the shop, which is closed for the winter, and called 911.
Crews responded and called in four other agencies to assist in fighting the fire within the candy shop.
“We were able to save some very historical and costly items, such as carousel horses in that process,” Smith recounted.
He said at the time, it appeared the fire started because of electrical components. They planned to return Sunday for a full investigation.
“Were quite successful, actually, in putting a stop to the fire and extinguishing it within a matter of a few hours,” he said.
With the carousel horses saved and the blaze appearing to be extinguished, Smith described how firefighters went through all their processes to make sure the fire was indeed completely out. However, because Smith said historical structures that have been remodeled can sometimes contain small voids or difficult-to-access areas, they placed the area on “fire watch” in case it rekindled.
Hours later at around 9:20 pm, that’s exactly what happened.
Smoke and flames again rose from Carousel Candy after Smith guessed smoldering in some small space they couldn’t reach flared back up.
“This time, the fire was more involved and more complicated and complex to fight,” he explained. “We utilized the same five agencies again as a group effort, to not only try to save the building, but save the surrounding exposures to it.”
Fire crews arrive at Lagoon as thick plumes of smoke fill the sky. (KSL TV)
The flames overtook the children’s bumper car ride, which a Lagoon representative said dates to the 1960s.
While firefighters had managed to save the ride during the first fire, Smith indicated the second fire spread to that area too fast for them to stop it.
As the park now cleans up from the loss, they posted on social media that they are already making plans to rebuild, determined to open on time for the 2022 season.
