A dramatic incident occurred at the Highfield Festival on Saturday night when two Ferris wheel gondolas caught fire, injuring around two dozen people. The blaze broke out just before 9 p.m. during a performance by rapper Ski Aggu.
Spread From Gondola to Gondola
According to festival-goer Madeleine R., who was at the scene, the fire started at the lower part of the Ferris wheel.
“We were about to board and had just reached the ticket booth when someone ran up and shouted, ‘Get down, there’s a fire!’” she recalled to Tag24.
Madeleine and others saw several people attempting to extinguish the flames, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Videos taken by Madeleine showed the Ferris wheel spinning faster after the fire began. It remains unclear whether this was a malfunction or a result of the fire.
The blaze quickly spread from one gondola to another as operators tried to evacuate the passengers. “One person jumped from the burning gondola, and another jumped from three or four meters high, hitting the ground hard,” Madeleine reported.
Two Dozen Injured
Emergency services arrived swiftly, extinguishing the flames and securing the area. Despite their efforts, the two affected gondolas were completely destroyed by the fire.
Police reported that approximately two dozen people were injured, with most suffering from smoke inhalation. Four individuals had burn injuries, and one sustained injuries from a fall. Several first responders and passengers also required treatment for smoke inhalation, according to police spokesperson Josehin Sader.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, with criminal investigators and fire cause experts working to determine what happened. Despite the incident, the festival continued with adjusted plans.
The performance by The Kooks was canceled, but rapper Cro made a special appearance with his band. The festival is set to conclude on Sunday with performances by Macklemore and Marsimoto.
