DEVASTATION STRUCK OLD TUCSON STUDIOS
(as told by Chris Ousley, Park Manager, Old Tucson Studios)
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No one knew how it started, but it did. No one knew where the first flame came
from, but it came. No one knew why there wasn't there wasn't enough water to keep it
controlled, but there wasn't. No one knew such devastation, but now, they know.
The fire at Old Tucson Studios on April 24, 1995, destroyed buildings, destroyed
costumes, destroyed memorabilia, and destroyed Old Tucson's authenticity.
When I first called Old Tucson Studios and asked who could supply me
with information on the fire, Chris Ousley, the Park Manager, told me that not many people
like to discuss it. "It is a part of our past", Chris said. Although
he was not an employee of Old Tucson at the time of the fire, he knew of the heartache and
havoc the fire caused. Old Tucson Studios used to be a link to Tucson's past, now it
is a reconstruction of that link. They have done a remarkable job in restoring the
ruggedness of Old Tucson Studios, but the authenticity is gone forever.
The origin of the fire remains a mystery to this day. However, we
do know why the fire wasn't controlled in a more timely fashion and why the fire caused so
much destruction. The lack of water, the actions of firemen, the weather, and the fire
protection system at Old Tucson played important parts in causing this to be a major fire
instead of a minor one. The day of the fire, Old Tucson apparently had 25,000
gallons of water on hand, stored in their reserves. When the fire broke out,
however, this water was unattainable. Water had to be brought in from as far as 40
miles away to control the fire. This was very time-consuming and gave the fire time
to spread through more and more of the park. In the vicinity of the fire were liquid
propane tanks and gunpowder storage areas. The firemen had to prevent the flames
from reaching these reserves, but in doing so, they used so much water that they flooded
the surrounding areas. This made it very hard for the firemen to work, thus making
it harder for them to put an end to the fire. The day of the fire was a very windy
day, which caused the flames to spread rapidly and destroy everything in their paths.
Since the buildings at Old Tucson were constructed to create movies, they were seen
as temporary structures, therefore not requiring the normal fire protection systems which
are mandatory for permanent buildings. Hence, the sprinkler systems in these
buildings were not adequate to control the fire.
When the fire began, 300 guests and employees were forced to evacuate the park. Even
the horses and petting zoo animals were led to safety. After four hours of
destroying everything it could reach, the flames finally died. When all was said and
done, nearly 40% of the park was demolished, twenty-five buildings total.
Twenty-five buildings of memories and anecdotes gone forever. Among the items and
areas burned to nothing were the sound stage, the main filming region called Kansas
Street, and the wardrobe used when Little House on the Prairie was filmed at Old Tucson.
The damage amounted to over $10 million.
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The people in charge of rebuilding had the challenge of mixing the old,
undamaged part of the studio with the new buildings to be erected. The
reconstruction phase lasted for twenty months. Old Tucson reopened on January 2,
1997. As the fourth anniversary of the fire draws near, the employees at Old Tucson
Studios are waiting for the day when people will forget about the fire. The folks at
Old Tucson don't like to be reminded of this painful experience in their lives and their
community. Chris wonders if there will ever be a day when people won't make
statements about Old Tucson starting with the phrase "Despite the fire..".
The fire remains an intriguing aspect of Old Tucson Studio's history and,
unfortunately for those who would like the fire to stay in the past, it also plays a part
in their present.
No one knew how it started, but it did. No one knew where the first flame came from,
but it came. No one knew why there wasn't there wasn't enough water to keep it
controlled, but there wasn't. No one knew such devastation, but now, they know.
The fire at Old Tucson Studios on April 24, 1995, destroyed buildings, destroyed
costumes, destroyed memorabilia, and destroyed Old Tucson's authenticity.