A 45-foot-tall animatronic dragon caught fire and forced parkgoers to flee a popular show at Disneyland on Saturday night.
The blaze started during the theme park’s “Fantasmic!” show at the Tom Sawyer Island attraction.
Multiple videos posted on social media captured the Maleficent Dragon’s head engulfed in flames mid-performance.
A thick black smoke plume was seen rising from the location across the 100-acre theme park.
The show was abruptly stopped as guests and Disneyland cast members were rushed away from the scene as emergency personnel extinguished the fire, which was seen spreading down the body of the giant dragon.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, this performance of “Fantasmic!” cannot continue,” an announcement told park attendees. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
The Anaheim Fire Department responded to the blaze and reported no injuries, according to ABC 7.
The area around Frontierland was cordoned off, with the remainder of the park kept open, a witness told the outlet.
The “Fantastic!” show involves fireworks and runs for 27 minutes.Citizen App
Guest were quickly evacuated from the area as the fire spread throughout the dragon’s body.Citizen App
The extent of the damage and if any other attractions were affected by the fire were not immediately known.
“Fantasmic!” is a live 27-minute show incorporating colorful water and fireworks at the Rivers of America in the park.
The popular attraction opened in 1992.
Tom Sawyer Island has been a centerpiece at theme parks since 1956 and is based on Mark Twain’s book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and allows parkgoers to travel in the footsteps and adventures of America’s early settlers in the 1840s.
The Post has reached out to Disneyland for comment.
Source link: https://nypost.com/2023/04/23/disneyland-dragon-catches-fire-during-fantasmic-performance/