A major fire ripped through a beloved seaside amusement park in the North East on Boxing Day evening, prompting a large-scale emergency response and launching an investigation.
Emergency Overnight Response
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFS) were alerted to a blaze at the Dinosaur Cove attraction within Ocean Beach Pleasure Park on Sea Road, South Shields, at approximately 7pm on Friday 26 December. The park, a popular destination featuring around 40 rides, attractions, and arcades, is situated roughly 12 miles east of Newcastle city centre.
Fire crews battled the intense flames throughout the night, finally bringing the incident under control and leaving the scene at about 3.30am on Saturday 27 December. At the peak of the operation, the service deployed six fire engines, specialist appliances, and three officers to tackle the inferno.
Scene Secured and Investigation Launched
Dramatic images from the scene showed thick smoke billowing into the sky as a significant section of the park was engulfed by fire. The scale of the blaze necessitated road closures in the vicinity on Friday evening while firefighters worked to contain it. A police cordon remained in place into Saturday morning as a precaution.
In official statements, both Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Authorities have stated that the incident is not currently being treated as malicious. A report is due to be passed to the Health and Safety Executive for their assessment.
Multi-Agency Effort
The fire service acknowledged the support of partner agencies during the challenging incident. Northumbria Police assisted by establishing safety cordons and managing road closures, while the North East Ambulance Service was also present at the scene. It has not yet been confirmed whether any injuries resulted from the fire.
A spokesperson for TWFS stated: "We will be supporting partners with the investigation into the incident but at this time we cannot confirm a cause." The fire service has now concluded its operational response at the location.
