Crime & Safety
Waterslide Fire ‘Suspicious’ In Sussex County: Prosecutor
Authorities say the probe of the June 15 "High Anxiety" water slide fire has deepened and is under investigation as a suspicious incident.
SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office has joined the Vernon Township Police Department in the investigation of a fire they now say has suspicious origins, which engulfed Mountain Creek Resort’s “High Anxiety” waterslide on June 15.
Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch was unable to provide exact details about the case findings so far on Thursday, but confirmed both agencies are looking more extensively into the fire’s cause.
“As with any ongoing investigation we can’t give specifics, but we’re working with the Vernon Township Police Department on the investigation,” Koch told Patch in a phone interview.
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The blaze broke out on the waterslide during the afternoon of June 15, with billowing gray smoke climbing into the resort’s mountains along with flames, bringing multiple fire departments and first aid squads to the park, the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps heading to it “within seconds” after the incident was called out.
High Anxiety’s fire thankfully yielded no injuries with it happening days before the park’s official season opening on Saturday, June 19.
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At the time of the incident, it was uncertain when High Anxiety would return, with that still a question on Thursday.
Though Hugh Reynolds, the water park’s Vice President of Marketing, didn’t answer a request for comment from Patch about the investigation, a statement was passed back by email about the status of the ride’s reopening and the resort overall.
“The damaged portions of High Anxiety have been removed and we are currently discussing our plans for its replacement,” Reynolds wrote.
“Mountain Creek Waterpark is open and fully operational as usual,” Reynolds added. “Our hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. seven days a week.”
Koch said Thursday anyone with any information about the High Anxiety Fire should contact the Vernon Township Police Department at 973-764-6155 or Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-383-1570.
RELATED: Waterslide Catches Fire In Sussex County's Mountain Creek Park
Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.
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