The Wetumpka Fire Department extinguished a fire at Skate Zone 2000, located on Red Eagle Drive, at around 2 a.m. Oct. 4.  According to Fire Chief Greg Willis, the fire department was dispatched to Skate Zone through the building’s fire alarm system. Once they arrived, Willis said they noticed a light amount of smoke outside of the building and forced their way in.  Willis said the fire started near the skating rink’s DJ booth. By the time they got there, Willis said the fire had gone up a nearby wall and spread to the ceiling. With the help of the building’s sprinkler system, Willis said firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within minutes.  Willis said an area of about 10 square feet was damaged.

“It burned an area that would be the equivalent of a room in your house,” Willis said.  “I think it’s a good example of why we work so diligently to help our commercial buildings have these systems in place,” Willis said. “Our personnel did a great job of stopping what could have been a major loss to the community.”

In the 1990s, Willis said firefighters faced a similar situation with another skating rink. Unlike Skate Zone, Willis said the previous skating rink did not have an alarm or sprinklers. “The one in the ’90s was a completely different situation. It was completely destroyed,” Willis said. Cole said he is grateful for the fire department, not only for saving Skate Zone 2000, but for the effort they put in year round.

“I really appreciate the effort that the Wetumpka Fire Department puts in,” Cole said. “It takes a lot of dedication to do what they do.” Cole said Skate Zone 2000 will remain closed for clean-up and repairs, and is unsure when it will be open again.