Was a proper building permit issued for this two story permanent structure? Isn't it the only clearly marked exit of a theme park? How fast could an estimated 9,000 customers exit via this bottleneck? Is it legal for 9,000 people to enter each day via this structure?

Is this place safe?

When human life is lost in a night club, the press asks why the building, fire, and electrical code was not followed. When family members have been lost due to negligence, law suits are filed against the owners of incorporations thought responsible. When the public demands answers, officials sometimes file charges against property owners. Why is it you do not generally hear about something being done before human life is lost? Building, fire, and electrical code exist first to prevent these things, not to punish people for horrible accidents after the fact.

I am no lawyer or code enforcement official. For all I know, the Ohio Renaissance Festival has some special exemption to these matters. Maybe 175,000 customers a year through the gates of a 30 acre theme park lined with an estimated 150 – 200 permanent structures doesn’t demand the type of code enforcement that I think it is. So consider this more of a question than a statement. Would you feel safe bringing your family to this event?

To the left is a photo showing the old front gate, replaced in 2008. The two are about the same size. This crowd is maybe 100 people. Now imagine 9,000 trying to pass it at the same time.

If this is the first article you read at this web site, please do not think this protest is about fire drills and properly marked exits. If the theme park did not have the many other serious building, fire, and electrical code violations I would not think fire drills and fire exits were nearly as important as they are. So instead, please consider this article in addition to the other many issues which I feel it is just to call the Ohio Renaissance Festival theme park a fire trap and maybe even a death trap.

Per claims made by the Ohio Renaissance Festival Inc. the expected crowd during the 2008 season is some 9,000 customers per day. This does not include staff, performers, merchants, and other participants. There is one clearly marked entrance / exit. All others are unmarked. Some are intentionally hidden. Opening mechanisms are often strings or other items dangling that do not look at all like opening devices. As I recall, a few of the gates have wood planks that drop into place to lock them. I did not pay much attention to these gates, but I believe they lock from the outside; thus preventing people from entering.

In a rational state, I would think the estimated 9,000 / day customers would move to a clear location in the case of fire. After all, the majority of the 30-acre theme park is open and clear of structures. There is at least one location, which is almost completely clear of combustible structures or trees. However, I do not think people think or behave rationally when the lives of their family seem in jeopardy. As a result, I would be more afraid of those 9,000 customers than any fire. Remember, we are not just talking about fire. We are also talking about the large explosions which seem likely to follow when the propane tanks are set off.

I think it is rather clear that due to a lack of fire code enforcement (perhaps due to an exemption) and because the wood buildings are almost on top of each other that a fire would spread very quickly. With virtually no visible fire extinguishers, water supply, or other fire fighting equipment; I think it is reasonable to believe a fire would jump from building to building without abate. Should this happen with only one clear exit, my guess is most of those 9,000 people would run for that gate at the same time?

Most Commercial Establishments invest the money in saving human life by spending the money to offer proper fire exits. Our guess is Peter Carroll thinks it is too expensive to put up a sign and install an alarm. One would think he would at least put one of those children that work at his commercial festival for below minimum wage at each of these hidden gates to let people out in case of an emergency.

I have no idea what the sound of a liquid propane tank exploding is, but I suspect it would motivate people to move rather quickly. I am in receipt of one photo which seems to clearly show a large propane tank pressed right against a building. The glass blower’s kiln is fueled by a large liquid propane tank as are at least a couple of the food service buildings. Although there is nothing illegal about using propane, I am sure they would pose a serious risk. If not from fragmentation and concussion, then from the stampede that would follow.

Note: The propane / flammable gas is documented in another post.

I believe the restriction created by the front gate would then become a very serious trample threat. After being involved with the Ohio Renaissance Festival for nearly a decade in which I was neither involved with nor observed a single fire drill, I think the confusion and panic of employees, performers, and other participants would add to this threat.