Fire breaks out in wooden Far West area under Raptor coaster at Gardaland; no injuries, park stays open

The fire

Around 13:50 on 28 July 2026, a fire broke out in the Far West themed area of Gardaland, the largest amusement park in Italy, located in Castelnuovo del Garda near Verona. The flames originated in a wooden scenic structure situated directly beneath the Raptor roller coaster, one of the park's signature attractions. A column of black smoke was visible from outside the park, and videos of the blaze circulated on social media, including a Facebook group called "Orgoglio bresciano". The fire did not involve the roller coaster itself, which remained structurally unaffected.

Emergency response

Park emergency teams were the first to intervene, initiating firefighting measures immediately. Firefighters from the local brigade arrived shortly afterward with two vehicles and extinguished the flames within a few minutes. After the fire was out, crews inspected the area to prevent any re-ignition. No guests or staff were injured, and the park management confirmed that all visitors were safely evacuated from the immediate vicinity. The Raptor ride and adjacent areas were temporarily closed as a precaution, but the rest of the park's more than 30 attractions continued operating normally.

Reactions

Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto Regional Council and former governor of the region, shared the video of the fire and publicly thanked the responders. In a statement, he wrote:

I wish to thank all the teams of the Fire Brigade, law enforcement, volunteers, and everyone who intervened with timeliness and professionalism to manage the emergency.

Park sources told Fanpage.it that internal checks were underway to determine the cause and that many visitors, given the park's large size, did not even notice the fire.

Investigation

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Early reports suggest the spark may have originated from some of the scenic elements in the wooden structure. The park stated that it is conducting internal verifications to understand what happened. No estimate of damage has been released.

Gardaland background

Gardaland opened in 1975 and attracts around three million visitors annually, making it Italy's most-visited theme park. The resort includes a Legoland water park, a Sea Life aquarium, and three hotels. Its best-known roller coasters include Raptor, Oblivion, Blue Tornado, and Mammut. The Far West area, where the fire occurred, is one of the park's oldest themed zones and is built largely of wood.