Fire at Funland: Damage but no injuries
Apr. 2—Authorities are still investigating a late afternoon fire that left no one injured but damaged two buildings at Funland Park on Sunday, according to Decatur Fire & Rescue Chief Tracy Thornton.
"The radio building started on fire, and it spread to the building beside that," Thornton said. "When the crews got there, they were able to contain it to those two buildings, and none of the rest of the buildings had any damage."
The radio building sits just west across the parking lot from the mini golf course at 401 14th St. S.E. At the time of the fire, it was being leased by a woman who publishes a small Spanish-language magazine called Confetti Magazine. She also operates an internet radio station.
"She's a great lady and that's her only livelihood" said Funland co-owner Chris Busetty. "She's distraught. She's lost everything."
Funland employee Bill Thompson was watching TV in the mini golf booth when he smelled smoke at around 5 p.m. Sunday. It was a windy day.
"I thought maybe somebody was burning something, just the way the wind was blowing," he said. There were only two people playing mini golf at the time. Thompson said he noticed them looking toward the radio building. He followed their gaze.
When Thompson saw the fire, he immediately called 911.
"I heard the sirens before I even got through telling them." He said at least four fire engines, along with a couple of police vehicles and an ambulance, arrived at the scene. "Luckily, it died out quick."
Thornton said fire crews returned to Funland on Monday morning to take care of a small bit of smoldering debris left by the fire.
"Nobody was hurt or anything like that," he said. "It's still under investigation."
Busetty and Funland Holdings LLC acquired the Funland property in February 2021. Since then, Busetty said he's made a lot of improvements.
"It's been rough for me because I'm an investor, but I haven't made any money on this property yet," he said. "I'm putting more and more money into improvements and, hopefully, later this year is when we will see a profit."
Busetty said he initially tried to lease Funland's Skate Castle to someone who could operate it as a skate rink but didn't receive much interest. For now, mini golf and Mel's Sweet Treats remain Funland's biggest draws.
— david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.
