Iconic Western PA Roller Coaster Catches On Fire

Pittsburgh PA

05 January, 2022

12:16 PM

Description

CONNEAUT, PA — The Blue Streak roller coaster, always one of the most popular rides at Conneaut Lake amusement park, was damaged in a fire Tuesday amid efforts to demolish the ride. A message on the amusement park's Facebook page stated that a burn permit had been issued to have small controlled fires to burn the coaster wood as the ride was being razed. A mechanical issue occurred to the heavy equipment being used in the controlled burn, causing the fire to spread to the front of the loading dock. "To ensure safety, the fire department was called to assist," the post stated. "Thankfully, no one was hurt." The remainder of the coaster, which was built in 1937, will be torn down in the next few days. Designated as historic by the American Coaster Enthusiasts Group in 2010, the Blue Streak has been closed since the end of the 2019 season. The amusement park did not open in 2020 due to the pandemic. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.