Croc Survives Florida Gator Park Blaze

Gatorland officials cheered late Monday afternoon when they learned that one of the crocodiles feared dead survived the raging fire Monday morning. The fire was reported just before 6 a.m., WESH 2 News reported. Fire officials said the first arriving units reported heavy fire and smoke coming from the gift shop and administrative offices at the attraction, and part of the roof collapsed during the fire. Four-story flames shot up as firefighters worked feverishly to get a handle on it. Zookeepers said two exotic snakes and a crocodile died in the fire, but on Monday afternoon, another crocodiles that was feared dead was found unharmed. It was taken to undamaged holding pens in the back. "Their pen is at the very back of the gift shop, and there was a modifier back there, as there was through the entire gift shop, and we're not sure if those animals survived or not," said Gatorland's Tim Williams. "It rips your guts out. It tears your heart out, but we're like an old alligator. We'll keep on going. I don't know how. We're going to have a meeting today. But we'll keep on going." Williams is the dean of gator wrestling at Gatorland. Orange County officials said residents should not worry about alligators or other exotic animals getting into their neighborhoods. Many animal rescue crews arrived to see how they could help. More than 75 firefighters responded to the fire, including crews from Orange County, Osceola County and the city of Orlando. No injuries were reported among firefighters or other personnel at the scene. They battled the fire, which was ripping through a huge, wood-frame building that was about 300 feet long and had a lot of heavy tongue-in-groove ceilings. Firefighters also battled flames that were pouring out of the park's famous gator mouth, which visitors pass through to enter the park. Not only did the firefighters have to battle the raging fire, they had to contend with alligators in the water around the building. "This particular building, on the very back side, touches the water. So, there is no way to gain access to the rear of this building without walking on the deck or being in a large lake full of alligators," said firefighter T.J. Lyon of Orange County Fire-Rescue. Fire officials said firefighters were told not to enter the building, and the blaze apparently spread through the attic. The fire is thought to have started in the gift shop, and investigators said they haven't found anything yet that caused the fire. The fire closed South Orange Blossom Trail in both directions for several hours. After the road reopened, people drove by to snap pictures of the place that has meant so much to generations of Central Floridians. "It's been here for years. I've grown up around here, and now it's just destroyed," one woman said. Fifty-seven years of Central Florida history went up in smoke and flames, and emotional employees arrived all day to check out the damage. "It is a very emotional time. I've been with Gatorland for over nine years, and I've loved every day of it," employee Michelle Harris said. "I know, though, that the company is strong and that it will return even better than the Gatorland that all of us are used to and love." Two employees were at the park when the fire started -- one was in his apartment on the ground and the other was in his office. "A couple that stopped in the middle of the road called Robert, who was coming back, he was in the apartment. (They) said, 'Your gift shop is on fire.' Robert got me and we ran outside and the rest is history," Williams said. Thousands of alligators, birds and other animals are OK. Williams said he's confident the park will reopen soon. "It's a very determined group. All of our employees are sitting out here, wanting to go to work," he said. "They're ready to go grab mops and shovels and start cleaning. Nobody has gone home. People are showing up for work. We're calling them saying, 'Hey, don't come.' You can't tear them away. You can't keep them away from here." Williams said when Owen Godwin built Gatorland in 1949, people thought he was crazy. "This was the only street going through Central Florida, (U.S. Highway) 441/Orange Blossom Trail. And all these years we've been able to hang in there with all the big boys and the hurricanes and the wars and the strife, and it's a family-run park. The Godwin family still runs it, and this park is as strong as they are. And it's going to hold together," Williams said. The park, which started out on 16 acres, now covers 110 acres. More than 400,000 people visit the park each year, making it Central Florida's 12th most popular attraction. He said all of the animal pens, venues and the fencing are intact. "I can promise you, somehow, we're going to make it work," Williams said. He said he thinks they may be able to open a different gate soon rather than the main entrance so that they can begin having their shows again. Williams said he's optimistic that the park may reopen by this weekend. To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Dave McDaniel.