Sheffield, UK – A third blaze in as many weeks hit the Sheffield Ski Village dry slope in England on Monday.
The cause of Monday’s fire that burned some of the artificial snow-like surface material on the ski area’s small slope is believed to be arson. It follows a massive blaze that destroyed the ski area’s base lodge on April 29 and a second small fire just two days thereafter that damaged one of the resort’s lift shacks. A suspected arson in March 2011 destroyed a playground at the site.
Following the late April fire, Sheffield Ski Village’s general manager, Vicky Lloyd, said that the ski hill’s staff of 5o was looking for work. South Yorkshire police have indicated that they’ve stepped up patrol activity in the area to discourage further vandalism.
Sheffield Ski Village first opened in 1988 as the largest artificial ski slope complex in Europe.