Fire Breaks Out at Disney World’s Epcot, Sending Smoke Over the France Pavilion
A fire erupted Saturday evening at Disney World’s Epcot theme park in Orlando, originating from a walk-in cooler in a backstage area. The blaze, which started around 7:20 p.m. local time, was quickly extinguished before it could spread further, and no injuries were reported.
The cooler was located in the France pavilion’s employee-only section, inaccessible to guests. However, visitors quickly noticed the fire, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Footage captured from the Skyliner attraction shows the smoke rising between the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ride and the Morocco pavilion, as startled guests looked on.
One onlooker, shocked by the sight, exclaimed in the video, “Oh my God, it’s right there!” Meanwhile, riders on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure were evacuated as a precaution.
Adding an unexpected moment to the incident, English performer Peter Noone was mid-performance at the park’s America pavilion when he noticed the flames. Turning toward the smoke, the 77-year-old musician quipped, “France is on fire!” The remark, made during Epcot’s popular Flower & Garden Festival, drew chuckles from the crowd.
More footage shared online showed the smoke visible from the Boardwalk area just outside Epcot’s gates. Authorities, including representatives from Walt Disney World Resort and the Orlando Fire Department, have yet to release further details about the cause of the fire.
Not the First Fire at a Disney Park
While the Epcot fire was swiftly contained, it’s not the first major fire at a Disney park in recent years. In 2023, Disneyland’s Fantasmic! show saw its iconic Maleficent dragon animatronic catch fire mid-performance, leading to the removal of its pyrotechnic effects.
Epcot, one of four major theme parks at Walt Disney World, has been a staple of the resort since its opening in 1982. Known for its cultural pavilions and innovative attractions, the park continues to draw millions of visitors annually.
Despite the weekend’s unexpected scare, park operations resumed as normal, with no major disruptions reported beyond the temporary ride evacuation.
