Stratford Firefighters Rescue Trapped Children on Ferris Wheel: UPDATE

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford firefighters rescued two children trapped on a malfunctioning Ferris wheel ride Wednesday night and Connecticut State Police are investigating after detectives determined the incident was not due to mechanical failure.

State Police Spokesman Trooper Kelly Grant announced on Thursday afternoon that detectives from the state’s Fire and Explosion Investigative Unit (FEIU) are investigating the carnival ride after a light fixture became dislodged while the ride was in motion.

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Grant said that the light fixture that fell doesn’t have anything to do with the operation of the ride, therefore it was not a mechanical failure with the ride, but an equipment failure of the light fixture itself.

"The light is one of many that is used to attract people to the ride, it doesn’t make the ride run," Grant said.

The Stratford Fire Department was dispatched to 411 Barnum Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. to rescue occupants stuck on a carnival ride.

Fire crews arrived to find that a Ferris wheel, approximately 70-feet tall, had malfunctioned causing two unoccupied ride cars to turn upside down and trapping two children in a third car, according to Deputy Chief, Fire Marshal Brian Lampart.

Lampart said firefighters were able to gain access to the two children approximately 25 feet above the ground by using Truck 1 and its aerial bucket to lower them to safety. The children walked onto the fire truck bucket under their own power.

No injuries were reported in the incident and the ride has been taken out of service by the Stratford Fire Marshal until repairs can be made and re-inspected by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Lampart said.

On Thursday morning, State Police detectives from FEIU responded to the scene and determined this incident is not due to mechanical failure, according to Grant.

Grant said detectives will conduct a ride safety inspection before placing the Ferris wheel back in service.

Detectives continue to investigate, Grant said.

The carnival is provided by Colman Bros. based out of Middlebury and organized by the Stratford Rotary Club.

Image via Stratford Professional Firefighters IAFF 998