Latest update:
Florida fire investigators on Wednesday said a heating element in an enclosed snake exhibit likely started the fire that gutted the entrance hall and gift shop at Gatorland in south Orange County.
The Monday morning blaze destroyed the 7,000-square-foot building, causing an estimated $2 million to $3 million in damage that has forced the alligator theme park to close for at least two weeks.
"The fire is being ruled accidental and electrical in nature," said Bill Newman, the State Fire Marshal's Office detective who studied the rubble for two days. "We ruled out everything else."
Gatorland President Mark McHugh said the heating element is a small, widely available pad placed in the bottom of cages to keep reptiles warm. He said the one that caused the fire was in a python exhibit near the building's entrance.
"We have about two dozen of these heating elements in use around the park," McHugh said. He said the remaining elements were examined for defects Wednesday. They all passed inspection.
In an afternoon news conference, McHugh said the ruined building wouldn't be touched until insurance investigators examine the rubble.
"Fortunately, this happened in November and not July," McHugh said. "This is one of our slowest times in the slowest month of the year."
The fire broke out just before 6 a.m. Monday, quickly inundating the building and damaging the concrete alligator jaws at the entrance that were Gatorland's signature feature. No one was hurt in the fire, but one dwarf crocodile, two pythons and two hatchling alligators died.
McHugh repeated his goal of reopening the park by Nov. 22. He said rebuilding the gift shop would take nine to 15 months.
"All of our shows and rides are operational," McHugh said. "There is just a great deal of relief here that this wasn't an act of arson."
