Fire erupts during music festival trapping passengers on ferris wheel in Germany

Journalist’s Notes

Interview Subject

Josephine Dobrunz, a fashion designer in Hannover, Germany, was one of the attendees of the four-day Highfield music festival near Leipzig in eastern Germany. Dobrunz witnessed the incident that made headlines when two passenger cars on a ferris wheel caught fire. Dobrunz survived the incident by chance. She was supposed to be on the ride but left the line early. She watched the entire scene unfold and assisted a friend who was injured escaping the ferris wheel.

Background Information

A ferris wheel at the Highfield Music Festival at Stormthaler Lake near Leipzig in Germany caught fire. Initial counts said 20 people were injured, but later reporting said at least 30. The incident took place on the third day of the four-day-long festival at 9:00 p.m. when two carriages on the ride caught fire. At one point it was reported that material under the ride sparked the flames which then passed on to the cable cars above.

LEIPZIG, Germany ꟷ On Saturday, August 17, 2024, my carefree day at the Highfield music festival at Störmthaler Lake turned into a nightmare. Heading out, I anticipated a fun day with my friends, filled with laughter, cotton candy, and thrilling rides. That thrill turned into terror when the ferris wheel caught fire.

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While the music played, concert goer looks over to see the ferris wheel stop and jerk

On the third day of the four-day long Highfield music festival near Leipzig in Germany, my friends, boyfriend, and I went to see some of our favorite musicians. I desperately needed some time off work. With the music scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., we arrived early to enjoy the rides. We made our way to the ferris wheel to get a bird’s eye view of the entire park.

The line moved quickly, but before I knew it, one of the musicians started performing. Most of us decided to move out of line to attend the concert. We planned to return to the ferris wheel later. The musician barely performed his first song when I noticed the ferris wheel stopped, with one of the passenger cars sitting up top. The riders seemed unconcerned. Perhaps they thought it stopped on purpose for them to enjoy the view.

The whole park stretched out below them with vibrant music playing and colors flashing. It was beautiful. Then, out of nowhere, I heard a loud crack. “It’s just the ride settling,” I thought, “or maybe part of the machinery makes that noise.” Next, the passenger carrier jerked slightly, and everyone began shouting.

Smoke began to gather around the wheel. My friends and I ran from the concert and moved toward the ferris wheel to see if our friend, who remained behind, was okay. The attendants and security personnel refused to allow us to move closer. At first, we thought it must be a small malfunction, but then the fire erupted. Smoke rose from the base of the ferris wheel – first a thin whisp, but it grew progressively darker. Everyone panicked around us. On the ground, attendees began rushing around while others cried for their family members in the passenger cars.

Chaos erupts in Germany as fire spreads to the passenger cars of the ferris wheel

People on the ferris wheel, especially at the top, began screaming. They appeared helpless and terrified. Our friend, close to the ground, eventually got down more easily, but she fractured her foot in the escape. Quickly, the security team rushed forward and rescued some of the people in the passenger cars.

They prevented the rest of us from moving closer. The staff ran around frantically, trying to get the scene under control. People screamed from the top of the wheel and from the ground. Kids cried and everyone looked terrified. We all knew, if the fire spread, no one would stand a chance at surviving, including those on the ground.

Soon, I heard a fire truck siren and saw relief on faces, but others remained panic-stricken. Those escaping the ferris wheel bore injuries and fractures and were bleeding and in pain. As the firefighters took control of the situation, some passengers remained trapped. They had no way to climb down, and the ladders could not reach them. The firefighters aimed their hoses at the bottom of the ride to contain the fire, but it spread and the passenger car next to the trapped riders ignited.

When the second passenger car caught fire, chaos erupted. Fear consumed me as I looked up at the passengers. I imagined myself in the passenger car. “What would I do if I was in their place,” I thought. I felt relief and guilt at the same time. Holding my boyfriend’s hand, I also felt grateful he was safely on the ground with me.

No one on that wheel thought something like this might happen when they boarded. For nearly two hours, the passengers remained stuck. Meanwhile, other attendees ran from the festival site to escape the fire.  

Inch-by-inch, staff manually turn the ferris wheel while firefighters contain the blaze

While authorities made announcements ensuring the fire was not going to spread, the music continued, serving as a distraction. The fire began to die down, and the wheel slowly turned. It felt agonizing to watch. The firefighters contained the blaze just enough to allow the ride operators to manually turn the wheel. Inch by inch, they brought each person closer to the ground, but not without injuries.

We later heard that about 30 people sustained injuries, but no one died. Seeing the passenger cars finally reach the bottom elicited significant emotion. Everyone watching cried and the family members of survivors kissed and hugged their loved ones. People visibly trembled, their legs barely able to hold them up as the firefighters ushered them away.

When I asked my friend if she was okay, all she could do was nod. The reality of what happened felt too overwhelming to process, especially for those on the ride. At first, my friend did not realize she fractured her foot. She felt pain but bore no visible sign of injury. By the time we reached the hotel, we saw how swollen her foot became and took her to the hospital, where they diagnosed the fracture.

Looking back, I realize how close I came to disaster. If the firefighters moved too slowly or if the wheel refused to turn, things may have ended much worse. I am sure those who escaped feel lucky to be alive. The experience made me appreciate fate much more, knowing how quickly life can change.

Watching this disaster unfold before my eyes, I never take anything for granted anymore. I try to make the most of every moment. That day, many people survived the ferris wheel fire. Even I survived by not being onboard. I escaped a very close call.

Video courtesy of Josephine Dobrunz.