Robert Salonga

Bay Area News Group

(TNS)

SAN JOSE — Arson investigators are looking into the cause of a fire spurred by a pickup truck crash that spread to a non-operational historic water park Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported around 4:40 p.m. along the perimeter of CaliBunga — previously more famously known as Raging Waters — along East Capitol Expressway, according to the San Jose Fire Department.

Fire officials said a pickup truck crashed into a fence and caught fire; SJFD photos show the flames spread to vegetation and then a roughly three-story water slide, identified by firefighters as Dragon’s Den, sending multiple black columns of smoke into the air.

Firefighters quickly contained the fire to the northwest corner of the water park property, which is contained within the larger Lake Cunningham park complex. Battalion Chief Jeff Fielding said the fire encroached on a second water slide, but that crews were able to preserve that structure.

He added that they needed about an hour to fully bring the fire under control, and that after the smoke cleared, the affected water slide and its adjacent stair tower were destroyed, along with a shed containing electrical equipment and stored chemicals. However, no chemical leak was reported.

Fielding confirmed that there were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters, and that the SJFD arson unit was looking into the circumstances behind the fire.

“We know it started with a vehicle but why the vehicle was there is under investigation,” Fielding said. “A witness saw someone leaving the area, and we have turned it over to arson (investigators) and law enforcement.”

Raging Waters operated for four decades at the East San Jose site before its operators let their lease expire due to low attendance. It was taken over in 2024 by California Dreamin’ Entertainment and became CaliBunga. In June, the City of San Jose announced that the 23-acre park would not be open for the summer for renovations and improvements, but a re-opening timeline has not been publicly detailed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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