Haunted house burns

HARLINGEN - Thrill-seekers will have to somehow make it through Halloween without a downtown haunted house because the attraction was destroyed by fire Wednesday.

The Rotting Flesh Factory, 318 W. Jefferson Ave., was "50 percent involved in flames" when firefighters got the call at 4:50 p.m., Fire Chief Mike Rinaldi said.

Owner John Cook said he sustained minor burns to both arms. No other injuries were immediately reported.

Cook had planned to open the haunted house to the public on Friday.

Electricians were upgrading old wiring and installing security lights when sparks ignited flammable wall decorations such as burlap, flossy cotton-like artificial cobwebs and plastic wall backdrops, Deputy Fire Chief Frank Garcia said.

Although an intentionally set fire occurred behind the haunted house last year, electricians and owners were working in the structure Wednesday when the fire broke out, Rinaldi and Garcia said.

Because the haunted house had been open to the public in the past, fire marshals had been conducting regular inspections for the past two years, Rinaldi said.

Wiring was old and in bad condition and electricians were in the process of making repairs when the fire started, Garcia said.

But Cook said most of the wiring had already been upgraded and electricians were in the process of installing security lights required by fire marshals when the fire broke out.

"We were getting everything into compliance (with city codes)," Cook said.

Garcia said he had been in discussions with city planning officials and it was likely Cook would have been required to install a sprinkler system before next Halloween.

Although no other injuries were reported, he received minor injuries, but had not yet sought medical care, Cook said.

"I'm fighting it," he said, showing red marks on his arms.

Because the haunted house was close to the downtown business district, firefighters were making a maximum effort to extinguish the blaze. However, Rinaldi acknowledged the building will likely be a total loss.

Other major fires have occurred in the area in the past few years, such as the old H-E-B warehouse, the Lozano (Pioneers) Building and nearby cotton processing buildings along the railroad, Rinaldi said.

"Because it's close by, we're keeping a close eye on Alicia's Restaurant," Rinaldi said. "San Benito Fire Department is bringing in their aerial truck for that."

Garcia said electricians who were working in the building told fire marshals that on Tuesday, they were unable to find their way out of the building because of the haunted house decorations.

Cook said he plans to find another building and build a new haunted house.

"I won't stop, because I love it," Cook said of his ongoing efforts to develop a haunted house attraction. He had previously worked at haunted houses in the Dallas area.

Cook owns and operates a licensed asbestos and mold consulting firm, ACI Environmental.