Shakopee, MN, USA — Since 1982, the IMAX has been a part of the Valleyfair Live Entertainment line-up with fun and educational movies on its larger than life screen. On October 28 at 6:00pm, movies came to life when the historic park landmark became a site for fire and safety training drills by local firefighters. Fire departments from Shakopee, Savage, and Prior Lake used fog machines to perform search and rescue drills inside the movie theater.
The drill began when a call was made that a fire had begun at the IMAX with possible bodies still inside. Fire trucks entered the Park via the back entrance and stationed themselves around the IMAX. Firefighters entered the building by forced entry and began searching through heavy fog for dummies and firefighter personnel acting as missing ushers and a projectionist. Ladder trucks were also used on the north side of the building for roof operation rescues. Several rotations of different crews happened throughout the night until 9:30pm. This event was not open to the public, Valleyfair is closed to guests for the 2013 season. The IMAX is scheduled for demolition within the next few weeks for future park expansions.
