Over Two Dozen Injured After Ferris Wheel Catches Fire at a Festival in Germany

Almost two dozen people were injured when a Ferris wheel caught fire at a fairground in Germany. The incident happened at the Highland Festival at Stoermthaler Lake near Leipzig, and German media reports indicate that a fire broke out in one of the ride’s gondolas before spreading to a second. The German Press Agency reports that 23 people were hurt, including four who suffered serious burns and one who fell from the wheel. 

First responders were also injured, including four police officers who were treated for smoke inhalation. In total, 65 people received medical treatment, but none had life-threatening injuries. Police confirmed that they have opened an investigation and will probe whether any criminal behavior caused the fire. 

German rapper Ski Aggu was mid-performance at the festival when the blaze broke out and later described it on his Instagram account. “I’m absolutely shocked and upset about the Ferris wheel fire during my show at Highfield,” he wrote. The performer also said that he was instructed not to end his show but to carry on as normal to avoid spreading panic through the crowds. 

While the cause of the fire is not yet known, a similar incident in Florida last year saw sparks and flames emanate from the base of a Ferris wheel, causing it to jolt to a halt and trap more than 60 riders in mid-air. Orange County Fire Department officers attended the scene at the Sunshine State’s ICON Park near Orlando and manually turned the wheel so 62 people could be released to safety. 

Nobody was injured, but video footage posted online appeared to show the ride’s generator blowing up. The incident happened in the same park where 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death the previous year. The teenager fell from the Free-Fall ride and plummeted 400 feet to his death. Subsequent investigations found that the Tyre was too tall and weighed more than the ride’s limit. Evidence also emerged indicating that he was not adequately secured and the gap between his harness and seat was wider than it should have been. 

The Free-Fall is the highest drop tower in America, standing at 430 feet.