Footage shows crowds of visitors staring in shock as a large wooden structure was engulfed in flames just metres away.
The blaze broke out yesterday (28 July) afternoon in the Far West-themed area of Gardaland in Castelnuovo del Garda, Italy.
The attraction was closed to visitors while maintenance work was being carried out.
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Firefighters from Bardolino rushed to the scene with two fire engines and brought the fire under control before it could spread further.
No injuries were reported, but the incident left many visitors shaken.
The fire started beneath the Raptor roller coaster, a wing coaster that stands 33m (108ft) tall and reaches speeds of up to 90km/h (56mph).
Although the ride itself was not damaged, the flames engulfed a wooden watchtower in the Far West area, allowing the fire to spread quickly through the timber structure.
As the Raptor track passes directly over the damaged watchtower, the ride remained closed while firefighters tackled the blaze.
The fire was fully extinguished in about an hour, while the rest of Gardaland’s attractions continued operating as normal.
Park officials have launched an internal investigation to determine what caused the fire, as reported by Need To Know.
The affected area, along with a small neighbouring section, will remain closed while safety inspections are carried out.
Many visitors were reportedly unaware anything had happened, as the park – Italy’s largest theme park – is so vast.
Gardaland management said in a statement: “No employees or guests were involved in or injured by the incident.”
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