01/22/2024 7:29 pm (current 01/22/2024 7:29 pm)
Charred pieces of wood are still scattered around. Excavators are on the way. Specialists with pads and pens walk past burned-out buildings. One day after the serious fire in the western town “Pullman City” in Eging am See, northwest of Passau, the clean-up began.
Despite the severe damage, the adventure park plans to offer its full programming again in the spring. “We assume that we will be able to restart operations at the end of March or mid-April,” the theme park's managing director Claus Six told the German Press Agency on Monday.
Damage amounts to tens of millions
All planned events would then take place, including the US Car Meet with Historic Cars, Karl May Weekend and the Harley Meet. But: “Really rebuilding the entire city on this scale — that will be in the fall,” Six said. The damage is in the double-digit millions.
Investigations go in all directions
According to police, the cause of the fire was initially unclear. “The investigations are progressing in all directions,” said a spokeswoman for the Lower Bavarian police headquarters. The Passau Criminal Police Inspectorate took over the investigation. There was an inspection of the fire site; an expert from the State Criminal Police Department was called.
Several buildings were set on fire
Firefighters battled the flames on Main Street for hours on Sunday. Several wooden buildings, including a steakhouse, a Mexican restaurant, the prison and the music hall, were set on fire. The fire was practically extinguished around noon. As the fire continued to rage in some locations, emergency services were also at the scene on Monday night.
“We survived Corona – we will survive this too”
Now the rubble and ash are being removed, Six reported. Among other things, they are in the process of restoring water and electricity supplies. “We are currently cleaning up and anxious,” Six said. “I can’t bury my head in the sand. We survived Corona – we will get through this too.”
He is in discussions with companies for reconstruction. In any case, construction was taking place on site. “We were just expanding.” A zoo, a climbing park, playgrounds, a wellness area and around 40 apartments for employees will be built on a new seven-hectare site. “These plans continue,” Six emphasized.
“It’s thanks to them that we didn’t have any personal injuries.”
It was only thanks to its employees that no one was injured in the fire. According to Six, the fire started at the entrance to the Music Hall. Staff who arrived around 6am to prepare breakfast for guests discovered the fire and responded correctly immediately. They woke up the approximately 180 guests who stayed overnight and took them to a safe location. “It's thanks to them that we didn't have any personal injuries.” According to police, an employee was slightly injured in the first attempts to extinguish the fire, as was a firefighter.
Dozens of animals were taken out as a precaution, including donkeys, horses, goats and llamas. Some of them managed to return to their stables on Sunday night. Everyone would have helped. “An absolutely special compliment to the employees.”
The cowboy fan park attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Depending on the weather, there are pony rides. Children can visit a small animal enclosure and meet the Ice Princess, Snow White and company. According to Six, up to 500 permanent and independent employees work at the park. Pullman City opened in 1997. Six has been managing director since the park's bankruptcy in 2011. There is a similar park with the same name in the Harz. They maintain friendly relations, but the businesses are separate, Six said.