SFMM in serious trouble with wildfires.

[Chitown]

I knew the park was in danger but after seeing these pics, WOW.

Very close.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/orteaser/1 ... otostream/

[cycamps]

That'd be bad if the park got burnt...

[superflybri]

As much as I would hate to see the park in flames.. I'm more worried about the houses near or in the pathway of this beast!

Maybe a little Deja Vu is needed to tame this beast. Would the coasters just start to melt in these cases or anyone know what happens?

Thoughts and prayers go out to the Californians. Be safe! And Fire Fighters, thank you for helping them!

[Danhockey04]

Under extreme heat and pressure, there can be some deformation, which would weaken the supports and make the coasters non-operable. Then they would have to replace the damaged parts of the ride. It can be a bad situation if the fire rolls through that park, it could cost SFI millions of dollars to fix all the rides, let alone the operating systems that could get damaged. The ride's central control system could be damaged in the fire, hydrolic fluid could start up in flames make the situation even worse. If the fire runs through the park, it may not only hurt the park, but the areas around it, by sending gases into the air of melting plastics, hydrolic fluid and molten steel (which reeks).

[RagingBullFan]

Under extreme heat and pressure, there can be some deformation, which would weaken the supports and make the coasters non-operable. Then they would have to replace the damaged parts of the ride. It can be a bad situation if the fire rolls through that park, it could cost SFI millions of dollars to fix all the rides, let alone the operating systems that could get damaged. The ride's central control system could be damaged in the fire, hydrolic fluid could start up in flames make the situation even worse. If the fire runs through the park, it may not only hurt the park, but the areas around it, by sending gases into the air of melting plastics, hydrolic fluid and molten steel (which reeks).

Just to clear things up a bit....

Due to the heat deformation is a real concern, what I'd be more concerned with though is the fire performing a heat treatment to the steel itself. I'd suspect most of the steel has been heat treated to allow it some flex to discourage brittle failure. Now if you have a fire that runs through and firefighters spraying cold water onto the heated steel you will change the tempering. This could lead to serious problems unless the steel is actually tested. It may look the same, but its mechanical properties are definitely not.

That and the hydraulic fluid will not catch fire. Hydraulic fluid is only flammable in a fine particle state, i.e. spray. If you just try to light a barrel of hydraulic on fire (assuming it is vented, otherwise it is a bomb...) it will not ignite.

[Director_Guy]

SFMM has been nearly on fire for years... I dont think there's much to worry about....

[Galvan]

A couple of things

Take a look at the one picture that has Sky Tower in the frame. Look at the Flag atop of ST, Its blowing straight out which means the wind has to be blowing at least 35 MPH.

And some of the shots I saw, it looks like the fireline is going away to the east of the southern part of the park.

[coasterkid94]

That picture was really frightening. I do feel concerned for the park if it gets damaged from the fires, but I am much more concerned for the people who are now homeless. I heard on CNN that over 300,000 people had to evacuate their homes due to the fires.

I don't know too much about the geography of California, but is Disneyland close to any of the fires? I know for sure that the fires are affecting the San Diego area, and my dad should be traveling there either this week or next week. By the time of his trip, I don't know if there will really be too much left of San Diego.

[rct2wizard360]

Theres a video on youtube if you wanna look it up that was uploaded yesterday.

There is LOADS of smoke just pouring into the park right now.
But just smoke.
This video was also taken 90 degrees to the left of where the posted one was.

Scary.

[zjohn1988]

Wow...not good

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

oh no!

I didn't even think about that when I heard aobut the fires. I hope everything will be okay.

[Galvan]

All the videos i have seen and there where plenty, Was the fires where moving parralel to the park.

SFMM's website doesnt even state if the parks operations will be suspended this weekend. So Im pretty sure the park is safe.

[CoasterDave316]

It says on SFMM's site: Park not affected by fires....we are OPEN for Fright Fest, Oct. 26-31 ... Don't Miss It!

[Chitown]

Today, they are fine.

Yesterday, they were at risk. I would have to think they have smoke and soot cleanup in the park to do since the smoke was going right over.

[cycamps]

Wouldn't that be a sight if you were riding Colossus and you see the track on the other side of the coaster on fire...

[cycamps]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zygvJTy3c_k
Here's a link to a video about fire near Magic Mountain.

[zjohn1988]

It says on SFMM's site: Park not affected by fires....we are OPEN for Fright Fest, Oct. 26-31 ... Don't Miss It!

Has the park closed at all from the fires?

[Chitown]

They are on a weekend schedule so when the fires were getting close, the park was closed for weekday operations anyway.

They state that on their website as to not make people think the park is in danger and that it will open this weekend. They want people to show up.

[Galvan]

I bet it would be empty this weekend. Anyone want to catch a flight to LA? heh

[Trailblazer Tony]

Man, that's a close call for this theme park, can you imagine the Travel Channel specials on this place if it DID burn down? Geez...

As others have stated, the prayers are going out to the families, not the theme park...sorry Magic Mountain, i'm obsessed with coasters, but not enough to put them over people...