Fire Ball Rides Shut down After Ohio State Fair Tragedy

Fire Ball Rides Shut down After Ohio State Fair Tragedy

Introduction

Following a tragic incident at the Ohio State Fair, where a Fire Ball ride broke apart, killing one person and injuring seven others, Fire Ball rides worldwide were immediately shut down.

The ride's manufacturer, KMG, instructed operators to close all versions of the ride to allow for a thorough investigation. In a statement, the Netherlands-based company detailed the accident, revealing that a passenger-carrying gondola had detached from its supporting sweep arm, leading to the fatal accident.

Even before KMG’s directive, ride operators and government agencies across North America began voluntarily shutting down these rides. North American Midway Entertainment, which manages rides at various state fairs and amusement parks, announced that it would close all Fire Ball rides indefinitely as a precautionary safety measure.

The Indiana State Fair, in response to the Ohio tragedy, decided to remove the Fire Ball ride from its lineup of over 50 attractions ahead of its August 4 opening. In a statement, the fair expressed sympathy for those affected by the Ohio State Fair accident and emphasized the importance of safety during their event.

KMG noted that the Fire Ball ride involved in the Ohio incident was built in the Netherlands in 1998 and is one of 48 such rides worldwide, with 11 operating in the United States. The accident claimed the life of an 18-year-old man from Columbus and left seven others injured, three critically. The man was thrown approximately 50 feet from the ride after it malfunctioned, and he died at the scene.

In the wake of the incident, there has been a broader conversation about ride safety. A safety analyst and consultant based in Richmond, Virginia, criticized the widespread closures of amusement rides across the country, describing them as a "knee-jerk" reaction to the Ohio tragedy. He argued that such extreme measures might not be necessary, suggesting that the situation requires a more measured approach.

Inspection reports released by the Ohio Department of Agriculture indicated that state inspectors had not found any issues with the Fire Ball ride during their examination prior to the fair's opening. Four state inspectors had signed off on the ride’s safety, and the ride operators from Amusements of America, the vendor responsible for the ride, also reported no problems during its stint at the New Jersey State Fair from June 22 to July 9.

According to records, engineers hired by Amusements of America conducted a visual inspection of the ride's welds on October 25, 2016, and performed an ultrasound examination of the ride’s 24 gondola pins to check for defects. No defects were discovered during these inspections.

However, KMG had previously issued warnings in 2007 and 2009, advising operators to inspect for "structural fatigue cracking" in various parts of the ride, including the foam-padded shoulder restraints that secure passengers. The company recommended that these inspections be carried out "as soon as possible." The ride, also known by the name "Afterburner," was flagged in these service bulletins, which called for visual and magnetic testing to detect cracks. If cracks were found, the instructions required that they be ground out and repaired by a certified welding company.

The 2009 warning specifically noted that inspections had revealed faulty welds in the structural steel of some over-the-shoulder restraints. It was discovered that the original welds had been partially removed during the finishing process, weakening the weld area and leaving it susceptible to failure. KMG instructed ride owners to grind out these cracks and re-weld the restraints to ensure safety.

According to an amusement-ride safety consultant based in Newbury Park, California, service bulletins like these are routine and do not necessarily indicate that a ride is unsafe. He explained that as rides age, they naturally develop stress fatigue, which is why regular inspections, such as non-destructive testing (NDT) like visual inspections and ultrasounds, are essential. He emphasized that these rides are significant investments that require careful maintenance, not disposable items that are replaced annually. The consultant stressed that it is too early to determine the exact cause of the Ohio accident, noting that the ride had been maintained and inspected regularly.

Despite the heightened concern following the Ohio incident, injuries from amusement rides are relatively rare. A 2013 report from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that nearly 1,300 children are injured on mobile amusement rides each year.

The report, which analyzed data from 1990 to 2010, recorded 27,065 injuries to children under 18 that required emergency room visits. However, over 98 percent of these injuries did not necessitate hospitalization, and the data did not include fatalities.

The center's manager of translational research pointed out the challenges in obtaining a clear picture of ride-related injuries, as there is no national reporting system for such incidents. This lack of centralized data makes it difficult to fully understand the scope of the issue and underscores the importance of thorough investigations following incidents like the one at the Ohio State Fair.