by: Sara Filips
Posted: Mar 23, 2025 / 09:38 AM EDT
Updated: Mar 23, 2025 / 09:47 AM EDT
ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — A fire, sparked by a walk-in cooler, broke out at Walt Disney World’s Epcot park in Orlando Saturday evening.
Videos captured the large, thick ball of smoke emerging from within the theme park, with flames seen peeking out from behind the structure.
“What?” a visitor aboard the Disney Skyliner is heard saying in one clip. “Oh my God, it’s right there.”
Another video captured from Disney’s Boardwalk shows the black smoke rising.
In another video, seen below, guests away from the area seem largely unaffected, dancing as smoke billowed in the sky behind them.
Disney officials confirmed that guests within the affected area were safely evacuated and the fire was extinguished.
While no injuries were reported, a witness told Nexstar’s WFLA that they saw guests wearing smoke inhalation breathing masks and others covered in emergency blankets.
The walk-in cooler behind the France Pavilion caught fire in a backstage area. The pavilion is part of the World Showcase at the resort’s Epcot theme park.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The official said it was quickly put out by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District fire department.
The pavilion reopened to theme park guests in the early evening.
WFLA has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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