'Somebody's going to get killed': Manitoba fire chief wants abandoned water slides demolished

A fire at an abandoned water park has sparked renewed safety concerns from a fire chief who worries someone is going to get killed at the formerstar Manitoba attraction.

• Wet 'n Wild waterpark should be demolished: mayor

Ken Peacock, the fire chief for St. Andrews, said a blaze Friday night at the old Skinners Wet 'nWild water park in Lockport is reason for the site to be demolished once and for all.

Someone lit a gazebo on fire at the site next to old waterslides, causing an estimated $5,000-$10,000 in damage, Peacock said.

"Someone's going to get hurt or somebody's going to get killed," he said, adding pools at the park are filled with water someone could drown in.

The site was a popular family attraction but closed in 2005 and has sat empty ever since. Peacock said Friday's fire, which 12 firefighters had to respond to, isn't the first time emergency crews have been dispatched to the site.

He said just two weeks ago, kids were injured after skateboarding at the old waterpark.

'Scares the hell out of us'

"My biggest concern is the kids going in there," Peacock said.

St. Andrews Mayor George Pike said his municipality hasbeen in contact with a lawyer for the property owner.

In 2015, Piketold CBC he'd like to see the site demolished.

Two years later, he said St. Andrews is still pushing ahead to have that happen.

CBC News reached the owner of the land, Santa Fe Developments, on Sunday. A manager said it was the first time she heard of Friday's fire but an owner wasn't available for further comment.

The company's website lists the 34-acre parcel of land for sale online with development slated for 2017-18.

The manager said the company is owned by four developers in Winnipeg, Toronto, British Columbia and Vancouver.

Peacock said demolition of the site is long overdue and is advocating for St. Andrews council to take action.

"It scares the hell out of us everytime we get a call there."