YOU NEED TO KNOW
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A large fire was reported at the SkyLand Ranch amusement park in Tennessee early Friday morning, February 13.
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According to the city government of Sevierville, Tenn., two large barns were destroyed during the incident
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The park sits on 100 acres of farmland in the Smoky Mountains and offers multiple rides and small animal encounters.
A large fire broke out at a Tennessee amusement park early Friday morning.
The incident was reported around 2:20 am local time on Friday, February 13, according to a statement on Facebook from the city government of Sevierville, Tenn. Police officers from the Sevierville and Gatlinburg police departments were near the SkyLand Ranch amusement park when they spotted the flames. According to the statement, other passers-by also reported seeing the fire.
A few minutes after the initial report, members of the Sevierville Fire Department arrived on the scene to find “two large barns on the property fully engulfed,” adding that “other small structures nearby were also engulfed.”
City of Sevierville, Tennessee Govt
A video shot by Chris Rogan shared with Storyful and obtained by PEOPLE, shows the roller coaster lit up by the huge flames coming out of the park.
According to the SkyLand Ranch website, the park is set on 100 acres of farmland among the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The park offers experiences like chairlift, mountain coaster, 300 feet high swing tower, hayride safari and small animals like horses, cows, pigs, goats, alpacas, sheep and more.
When firefighters arrived, they immediately worked to move some of the barn’s animals to safety. The authorities “concentrated the fire in the two barns and concentrated on the surrounding buildings while protecting the animals.” Members of the Tennessee Department of Forestry also responded to mitigate the threat of wildfires.
City of Sevierville, Tennessee Govt
The post says crews will remain on the scene throughout the day to “continue to review the fire and to prevent any further fire spreading through the woods.”
The statement confirmed “no first responders or animals were injured during the fire.”
On SkyLand Ranch’s Facebook page, they celebrated the work of local authorities.
“THE ANIMALS ARE SAFE!! NO INJURIES!” they write. “Thank you to all of the Sevierville and Sevier County Fire Departments and the Sheriff’s Department for their quick response and assistance this morning.”
PEOPLE has reached out to SkyLand Ranch, the city of Sevierville and the Sevierville Fire Department for additional information.
Sevierville fire chief Matt Henderson tells local outlet WBIR that the park’s owners are currently out of town.
He adds that the animals were not kept in the barns that caught fire and are being kept in the petting zoo area of the park and are being cared for by park staff. He confirmed that the fire caused the building that houses the animals to lose heat, and therefore additional heaters will be brought in as the cold is a concern.
Henderson also said that the mountain coaster and chairlift in the park did not catch fire.
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Because of the extent of the damage, the barns will be demolished if they don’t fall on their own, according to Henderson.
A cause for the fire has yet to be announced.
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