SOLINGEN, Germany, July 7, 2025
Solingen Theme Park Fire Destroys Landmark Carousel
A blaze ravaged a German amusement park, causing significant damage.
- Large fire broke out at the Ittertaler Märchenpark in Solingen.
- A historic water carousel from 1907 was destroyed.
- Restaurant guests evacuated safely; no injuries reported.
- 60 firefighters responded, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby woods.
- Residents were warned via app and radio to close windows and doors.
A massive fire at the Ittertaler Märchenpark in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, destroyed a historic water carousel on Sunday.
The heat was so great that the front of cars parked 50 meters away melted
Restaurant Evacuated as Blaze Erupts
The fire broke out around 7:25 p.m. Sunday at a 1,000-square-meter storage hall in the former Ittertaler Märchenpark in Solingen.
The park, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, has been closed for years and is partially under historical protection. However, the restaurant had reopened two months prior. According to a fire department spokesperson, the restaurant was occupied by 50 people at the time.
Guests were swiftly evacuated from the restaurant, situated approximately 200 meters from the raging fire. The intense heat from the blaze caused parts of cars parked 50 meters away to melt, according to the fire department. Despite the proximity, the restaurant remains open for business.
The 60 emergency personnel managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the nearby forest
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a towering plume of smoke and a fiercely burning hall, with flames spreading to adjacent vegetation in the Märchenwald (fairy tale forest). Difficult access and limited extinguishing water necessitated pumping water from the Ittertal outdoor pool, about one kilometer away, and from hydrants.
Warnings Issued to Residents
**What measures were taken to warn the population?** Thermal imaging cameras and drones were deployed, and residents were urged via the Nina warning app and radio broadcasts to keep doors and windows closed.
At daybreak, the full destructive force of the fire was revealed, with only a skeleton remaining of the hall
A victim of the flames: The historic water carousel was also destroyed
Sixty firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported, and the fire was prevented from spreading to the nearby forest. Surrounding roads remained largely closed overnight.
Historic Carousel Destroyed
The park held sentimental value for many Solingen residents. In addition to the restaurant, the grounds featured a pond, a petting zoo, and the Märchenwald.
The historic water carousel, dating back to 1907, was completely destroyed, along with the hall. It stood next to the hall, formerly known as the “Bayernhalle,” which was last used for storage.
