Melissa Donovan
A fire broke out at the EPCOT theme park, part of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, on Saturday evening, leading to evacuations and an emergency response. Disney officials confirmed the incident and stated that the blaze had been fully extinguished.
Thick Smoke Seen Rising from the France Pavilion
Park visitors shared footage on social media of smoke coming from the France Pavilion. Videos online showed emergency teams responding to the situation.
The fire originated from a walk-in cooler located backstage at the France Pavilion, according to Fox 35 Orlando who cited Disney officials. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Officials confirmed that there were no reported injuries.
Evacuations and Emergency Response
As a precaution, guests were evacuated from the affected area, including those on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a ride located nearby. Emergency crews worked to contain the fire, and by 7:20 p.m. local time, the flames had been extinguished, according to statements provided to local news outlets.
The fire occurred during a busy time for EPCOT, as the park is currently hosting its annual International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs through June 2. Spring Break season has also contributed to increased attendance at Walt Disney World.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which was isolated to the backstage cooler area. Disney has not provided further details but stated that park operations resumed as normal following the incident.
Officials emphasized that guest safety was a priority and emergency response measures were implemented as needed.
Comments