State Fair to require ride inspections

Nevada State Fair officials have announced that independent ride inspectors will be required for next year’s carnival. The decision was made in the wake of charges that the Ferris Wheel may have operated unsafely at this year’s fair.

"It’s because of what happened that we’re going to bring in an inspector," said Gary Lubra, Chief Executive Officer for the Nevada State Fair. He said that carnival operators will be required to bring in inspectors from California to verify that rides are safe to operate after the rides are set up and before people are allowed to ride them.

"That’s going to be one of our requirements of operators," Lubra said.

The issue arose because in August, Kurt Huntoon, owner of Protofab, 1080 Linda Way in Sparks, was called to the Fair to make repairs on the Ferris Wheel. Huntoon felt the damage was substantial enough that he could not assume the liability to fix it, and he refused to work on it. Later, after the Fair’s run, the Ferris Wheel operator did his own welding.

Huntoon is glad the rides are going to be inspected in the future.

"I think that’s a pretty good idea," Huntoon said. "It’s your kids and my kids who are riding the things. I think somebody should inspect the rides before they give them the A-OK to sell tickets."

Lubra said it might be appropriate to make laws that require all traveling carnival rides to be inspected. Neither Reno, Sparks nor Washoe County has laws to ensure these rides are inspected for mechanical safety.

"For the protection of the public, maybe there should be some legislation," he said. "Of course, who’s going to fund that? You know the state is not going to want to do it."

Inspections are a two-edged sword, according to Lubra, who’s been CEO of the Fair for 10 years. On one hand, if the cost of inspections raise ticket prices, the Fair may not have enough ticket buyers to operate. On the other, a mishap could also end the Fair’s 126-year run.

"If we had an accident, that would be enough to put us out of business," he said.

—D. Brian Burghart