Epcot's Unexpected Smoke Show

Epcot, one of the four main theme parks at Walt Disney World, had an unexpected event on a Saturday evening. A fire started in a walk-in cooler in the France area. This cooler was in a backstage section, so guests couldn't access it. The fire began around 7:20 p. m. local time. It was quickly put out, so it didn't spread much. Luckily, no one was hurt. Visitors on the Skyliner attraction captured footage of the incident. The video shows thick black smoke rising from between the Remy's Ratatouille Adventure ride and the Morocco pavilion. Guests were seen huddled in backstage areas, watching the smoke billow up. One onlooker in the video exclaimed, "Oh my God, it's right there! " as the smoke and flames became visible. After the initial reports, local news confirmed that riders were evacuated from Remy's Ratatouille Adventure during the fire. The smoke was visible from the nearby Boardwalk area, just outside Epcot's gates. Another video shared on TikTok shows English performer Peter Noone singing on stage at the America pavilion while smoke filled the area. Noone humorously noted, "France is on fire! " as the crowd chuckled. This event happened during Epcot's Flower & Garden festival, a popular springtime event that attracts large crowds. This wasn't the first major fire at a Disney park. Earlier in 2023, the Maleficent dragon figure at California's Disneyland caught fire during a Fantasmic! show performance. This incident led to the removal of the pyrotechnic effect later that year. Epcot, opened as the second park at Walt Disney World, after Magic Kingdom in 1971. It was followed by Disney's Hollywood Studios in 1989 and Animal Kingdom in 1998. The fire at Epcot serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in theme parks. While the incident was quickly contained, it highlights the need for vigilance and preparedness. Theme parks like Epcot attract millions of visitors each year, and ensuring their safety is paramount. The quick response from park staff and the lack of injuries show that safety protocols were effective. However, it's crucial for parks to continually review and update these protocols to prevent and manage such incidents.