A fire broke out backstage at Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park on Saturday evening, sending dark smoke into the air near the France Pavilion in the World Showcase.
Disney officials confirmed that the fire started behind the scenes, specifically in a walk-in cooler. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Guests inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a popular attraction in the France Pavilion, were evacuated to a backstage area as a precaution.
Social media was flooded with photos and videos of the smoke rising above Epcot. The fire was first noticed around 7 p.m., but officials confirmed it was fully extinguished by 7:20 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred during peak Spring Break crowds and Epcot’s ongoing International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs through June 2. Despite the fire, the theme park remained open until its scheduled closing time of 9 p.m.
Walt Disney World Resort is located approximately 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Florida, spanning parts of Orange and Osceola counties. The resort features four major theme parks.
Epcot, where the fire occurred, is known for its World Showcase, which features themed pavilions representing different countries, including France.
Last year, Disney World allegedly produced “pronoun pins” for its employees, according to anonymous employees.
Employees at Disney’s Epcot can now fill out a form to have preferred pronouns added to their name pin.
Hi everyone, we are excited to introduce pronoun name tags in our area!” the form reads, according to The Daily Caller. “Pronoun name tags help us understand each other more and bring a positive impact within our community!”
