Fire scorches Playland’s Dragon Coaster; county executive says it will be fixed by fall

Flames tore into the Dragon Coaster at Playland in Rye on Saturday night, scarring one of the amusement park’s oldest and most recognizable rides. Nobody was hurt, and the park had already shut down for the season.

The call came in at roughly 8:43 p.m. for 100 Playland Parkway, and Rye firefighters pulled up in under four minutes, the city said in a post. An active fire was burning on the coaster when they arrived.

How crews put out the Playland fire

Extra companies were requested because of the coaster’s size, the way it is built and the chance that flames would travel through it. About 15 minutes later, Rye crews had the fire under control, according to the city. Firefighters from Larchmont and Harrison stayed behind to soak what was left smoldering.

Investigators from the county’s Cause and Origin Team worked the scene alongside county police. No exact source of ignition has been pinpointed, and the city described the cause as suspected to be accidental. An electrical fault is what it looked like, according to Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.

When the Dragon Coaster will be back

Only slight damage was done to the ride, Jenkins said, and Playland’s own maintenance team can handle the repairs, with the work expected during the fall. “Rest assured: this Dragon will rise again for Playland’s 99th season,” he said.

Closing in on its 100th birthday, the coaster is still the attraction Playland is known for. A $1.4 million overhaul brought it back for the opening of the current season. Jenkins called the damage insignificant and said he expects riders on it next summer.