FIRE THREAT TO ZOO
ARMED POLICE ON DUTY DURING DODGE’EMS BLAZE
POLICE with loaded rifles stood guard in an amusement park at Skegness on a Sunday night in July 1953, to prevent the escape of lions, bears, and other wild animals in a zoo next to a blazing fun-fair structure.
While the police stood ready to shoot down the animals if they became crazed by the belching smoke and broke loose from their cages, fire-fighters from two brigades. tackled the fierce blaze to prevent it spreading to other wooden buildings.
The fire, which had been discovered by a night watchman at about 11 p.m., broke out in the Dodge’em structure, which soon became a mass of flames.
Two fire engines, a pump escape and a water tender raced to the blaze from the Skegness Brigade headquarters, and soon afterwards the Wainfleet Brigade was also called into action.
The fire, which is thought to have been caused by a faulty electrical circuit, started in the switch-box of the Dodge’em track in Butlin’s No. 1 amusement park.
Soon after the night watchman had raised the alarm, members of the amusement park staff, under the direction of the chief engineer, Mr. L. Stevenson, went into action in an attempt to isolate the outbreak.
At the same time, Capt. Carl Barrington, the zoo superintendent, remained in the zoo to pacify the animals.
Mr. A. R. McGeachey, area superintendent of Butlin’s amusement parks, also took prompt action to ensure that the animals did not escape, but fortunately the rifles were not needed.
The whole of the wooden structure above the Dodge-’em track was burning fiercely when the fire-fighters arrived, but their quick turn-out prevented the flames spreading to the adjacent buildings, which included the big rotors, the ” whip,” a large cafe and also sideshows.
The fire-fighters concentrated on the zoo end of the blazing structure, where the flames were licking towards the zoo only six yards away. The wind later veered and carried the dense clouds of smoke away from the animals.
The Dodge’em track, which was one of the largest in the country, and also 31 Dodge’em cars, was a total wreck when the firemen quelled the outbreak four hours later. Meanwhile, the corrugated iron roof and supports had collapsed.
The loss, we understand, is fully covered by insurance.
The amusement park opened for business as usual on the following morning, and Mr. McGeachey said that a new track will operate next Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Higham, proprietors of the Rainbow Wine Lodge, had closed down for the night and were on their way home when they saw the glow of the fire. ‘They immediately returned and from 12 midnight to 2 a.m. brewed tea for the Fire Brigade and other workers present.
Dodge’em track destroyed by fire at Butlin’s
A DODGE’EM track, one of the largest in the country, was destroyed by fire No. 1 Amusement Park at Skegness on Sunday night. Picture shows the havoc caused by the blaze. Fire-fighters prevented the flames from reaching the adjacent zoo, in which wild animals, including lions and bears were being pacified.
July 1953
