| Units from West Friendship and Ellicott City were alerted today for a reported building fire at the former Enchanted Forest amusement park at 10224 Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City. At 13:53, Engine 31 and Paramedic 35, along with units from Ellicott City Stations 2 and 8 responded to the closed park. Upon arrival Bethany Lane Engine 82 found an 8 foot dragon figurine atop the castle that was the onetime entrance to the park on fire.
Because the fire was contained to the dragon the incident was quickly downgraded and the fire was extinguished by Engine 82 utilizing Tower 2's aerial. Engine 31 stood by for a buffer on Route 40 and assisted with clean up and Paramedic 35 stood by for the duration of the incident. Units from 3 cleared at 14:19.
The Enchanted Forest was the first theme park in Maryland and on the East Coast, opening on August 15, 1955. It has been closed since the early 1990's. Recently many of the buildings and figures have been restored and moved to Clark's Elioak Farm where the public can once again see them.
According to the Enchanted Forest Preservation Society, the dragon was set afire accidentally when sparks were created during the moving process. |
