TITUS, Ala. — A volunteer fire department’s annual haunted house was shut down over numerous safety concerns.
WSFA reported that the Maze of Terror, voted one of the best haunted houses in Alabama, is a big fundraiser for the Titus Volunteer Fire Department.
State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk says a complaint from a concerned citizen led to an inspection of the structure. The tip came in just as the maze was getting ready to open for the second weekend of its operating season, which runs from Oct. 2 - 31.
Paulk issued an order to shut it down, citing 36 code violations.
“It was not code compliant. It was very dangerous,” Paulk said. “There were no safety features as required by code. There was nothing about that facility that was code compliant or safe for the use and operation of a haunted house.”
Fire Chief Wayne Moore said he had no comment on the shutdown. He says the maze makes up 50 percent of the department’s yearly income, according to the report.
Paulk said the structure lacked a fire sprinkler and fire alarm system.
“What we found at that location was that they invited the public in, they charged them a fee, they brought them inside the house, they confused them, they had things there to scare the daylights out of them and then they hoped for a good outcome but there was no safety features for the public at that facility which is very, very troubling when someone in the public safety sector invites people in to those dangers,” Paulk said.
A major portion of the interior was covered in thin, flammable plastic sheeting. There were many pieces of roofing felt paper hanging from the ceilings, also a combustible material, according to the report.
Paulk called the electrical system “shocking,” indicating that major wiring was done with extension cords and that there were open splices. Power strips and outlets were found outside, exposed to the elements.
Cigarette butts were also found in the control room scattered on the floor.
“If you were inside that facility and it caught fire, every life would be in danger,” Paulk said. “Those kinds of things can cause, do cause and will cause serious injury and death.”
The haunted house was in its 14th year of operation and its proceeds help the fire department with maintenance and insurance for fire trucks.
The fire department can either bring the building up to code or appeal the fire marshal’s findings. The haunted house can reopen if the fire department brings it up to code or wins an appeal.