Chief suspects arson in Magic Landing fire

Fire investigators are searching for clues about what started a massive fire at the old Magic Landing theme park Monday morning in Socorro, but they suspect arson.

The fire started around 3 a.m., sheriff's deputies at the scene said. They put it out completely around 6:30 a.m. after it destroyed two two-story abandoned buildings, fire officials said.

Volunteer crews from Clint, San Elizario and Horizon City came to help Socorro's volunteer firefighters battle the flames.

"I was warm in my bed when the pager went off," one volunteer firefighter said.

Soccoro's volunteer fire chief, Mario Murillo, told KFOX-14 a fire has burned at the abandoned amusement park an average of once per year since he's been with the department.

The park closed in the 1980s. It's current owner arrived at the scene on Monday around two hours after the fire started and said he had "no idea" what was going on and didn't want to comment.

Stay with KFOX-14 for new developments to this story.