Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster catches fire as park phases out iconic ride

Core Points - A fire occurred on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort during its demolition process for a new attraction [1] - The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and there were no reported injuries [2] - Universal Orlando Resort has recently expanded to four parks with the opening of Universal Epic Universe in May [5] Incident Details - The fire took place on the lift hill of the ride, which had been closed since August 18 [1] - Attorney Ben Crump, representing the family of a deceased rider, criticized the reopening of the ride as a risk to public safety and called for a pause to allow for expert inspections [8] - An incident report indicated that the deceased rider had a spinal injury and was on medication [9] Company Statements - Universal Orlando President Karen Irwin stated that a comprehensive review confirmed the ride systems functioned properly during operations [11] - Universal has not publicly announced the replacement for the demolished coaster [1]