June 6, 2023 – An amusement ride at the St. John the Beloved Church carnival malfunctioned at 9:31 PM bringing scores of firefighters to the annual carnival event.  The amusement ride was unable to disembark the riders causing twenty individuals to be rescued using three aerial devices.   The ride is approximately 60’ in height.
 

Mill Creek Fire Company staff were already at the carnival providing EMS and fire protection when a loud noise was heard in the vicinity of the “Zipper”.   New Castle Police were also immediately at the scene and the New Castle County Fireboard was notified of the event and a high angle rescue was dispatched.  

Mill Creek Fire Company responded along with Christiana Fire Company, Brandywine Hundred Fire Company, Cranston Heights Fire Company, City of Wilmington Fire Department, New Castle County Paramedics and BLS units from Mill Creek, Belvedere and Five Points Fire Company.

The riders were safely removed from the ride utilizing aerial platforms from the Christiana and Brandywine Hundred Fire Companies and Mill Creek Fire Company’s ladder truck.   One person was transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries by Mill Creek Fire Company. 

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the malfunction.    Units cleared the scene shortly after midnight.