00:02A roller coaster fire at Universal Orlando early Friday renews safety concerns weeks after a guest's death on the park's newest ride.
00:11The fire broke out on Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, a closed coaster being torn down, flames burned on the lift hill.
00:18Firefighters contained the blaze with no injuries, according to Fox 35 Orlando, and the cause remains under investigation.
00:25Fox Business said the department did not respond to a request for comment.
00:28The Music Blasting Coaster officially closed on August 18th, and crews have removed major features, including its iconic loop, with no replacement announced.
00:39But Friday's fire is the latest in a string of troubling headlines for the popular resort.
00:44In May, Universal Orlando opened its fourth park, Epic Universe, featuring Stardust Racers in the Celestial Park section.
00:51Weeks later, tragedy struck.
00:53On September 15th, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, who had a spinal injury, used a wheelchair, was on medication, and rode with assistance, died after riding Stardust Racers.
01:05Stardust Racers closed after his death, but Universal quietly reopened it last weekend after what it called a thorough safety review.
01:12The family's attorney, Ben Crump, said reopening before experts could inspect it was a grave risk to public safety, and accused the company of putting profit over people's lives.
01:22He added that if the ride functioned exactly as designed, and Zavala still died, then the design itself is deadly.
01:30Crump demands Universal pause operations, preserve evidence, and allow independent experts to examine the ride.
01:36Karen Irwin, president of Universal Orlando Resort, defended the reopening.
01:42She wrote,
01:43Our comprehensive technical and operational review confirmed the ride system's functioned properly, and our team members followed procedures throughout.
01:53For many guests, it's hard to ignore the timing.
01:56One fire.
01:57One fatal accident.
01:59Two rides, one park, and a lot of unanswered questions.
02:02Universal Orlando, owned by Comcast NBCUniversal, is among the most visited U.S. resorts, and has not announced operational changes or further comments on the fire.
02:13With more visitors expected as the holidays approach, attention is turning to how the park moves forward, and whether safety concerns could cast a shadow over its biggest year yet.
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