Raging Fire in Carowinds Parking Lot Destroys Vehicles

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The most exciting thing at Carowinds Friday wasn’t the roller coasters. “It was pretty crazy. Everybody was in a panic, trying to get out, make sure it wasn’t their vehicle,” says park visitor Jonathan Reeves.

A raging fire swallowed up almost a dozen cars in the south parking lot, burning some of them to the ground. 10 cars were badly damaged. 1 had minor damage. No one was hurt.

Park visitors used their phones to capture video. Scott Lee says, “We were getting ready to leave the water park, and we saw black smoke.”

Lee got in his truck and left after he saw the fire. He says, “Personal property, you can replace, but you can’t replace somebody’s life.”

Investigators, still not saying what sparked the blaze, but they would confirm it started in one vehicle and then spread to the others before it was knocked down. Flint Hill Fire fighters were first on the scene. Charlotte Fire also helped out. York County Fire Department is now handling the investigation into how the fire started.

Reeves was parked five rows away from the fire. His car is fine, but, he points out: “It being so hot out today, and with the wind blowing, it coulda really spread and caused a big issue.”

Carowinds guest services employees helped park visitors whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed in the fire.