Fire destroys ScreamPark barn in Lowhill Twp
By SUSAN BRYANT
A two-alarm fire destroyed a barn Monday night which contained equipment for Lehigh Valley ScreamPark, 2951 Betz Court, Orefield.
According to a Fogelsville Fire Department’s Facebook post, Fogelsville, Tri-Clover and Laurys Station fire departments, along with Cetronia Ambulance Corps personnel, were dispatched 8:26 p.m. Sept. 28 for the fire at 7209 Kernsville Road, Lowhill Township.
A second alarm was called bringing firefighters from Greenawalds, Woodlawn, Good Will Fire Co. No. 1, Trexlertown, New Tripoli and Weisenberg to the scene.
The Facebook post further states Tri-Clover Assistant Chief Brian Neas, who arrived on the scene, declared it a working fire and asked for more tankers since there are no hydrants in the area.
A large backhoe was brought in to pull apart the walls.
One firefighter was treated for heat, the Fogelsville Facebook post states.
According to a post on the Nester Video Production Facebook page, multiple tankers were used for water supply, including two Aqua Duck tankers from the nearby business.
ScreamPark owner Buddy Wessner spoke with The Press on Tuesday.
Wessner learned about the fire when an employee called him around 8:30 p.m.
“It was unexpected and it went fast,” Wessner said. “Before the fire trucks arrived, it went down.”
He said the barn was used as a storage facility for the ScreamPark.
“Everything we had to run the shows, the sound system, lighting, fog machine, hay wagon and small equipment tools were lost in the fire,” Wessner said.
“There were no animals inside.”
This Halloween would have been the sixth year for the Lehigh Valley ScreamPark, since its opening in 2014.
Wessner said he was told by North Whitehall Fire Marshal Don Jacobs the fire originated from a boiler malfunction.
Wessner and his wife, Cheree, have owned the property since 2008.