Fire sparks backstage at Walt Disney World's EPCOT, officials say

The Fast points:

• A fire sparked on the backstage at Walt Disney World's EPCOT theme park.

• Fames could be seen from the French Pavilion, part of the "World Showcase" at EPCOT.

• Photos and videos on social media, showing a column of dark colored smoke rising

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ORLANDO, Fla. — A backstage fire ignited at Walt Disney World's EPCOT theme park on Saturday evening, sending a thick plume of smoke rising over the World Showcase near the France Pavilion. Visitors quickly took to social media, sharing videos and photos of the unsettling sight. According to Disney officials, the blaze broke out behind the scenes, near the France Pavilion. FOX 35 News learned that some guests were evacuated from the "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure" ride to safety backstage. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

What happened?

Disney confirmed the fire began Saturday afternoon, tucked behind the France Pavilion in EPCOT's World Showcase. Around 7 p.m., social media lit up with images and videos showing smoke near the popular area. By 7:20 p.m., the fire was reportedly under control.

Although EPCOT was scheduled to close at 9 p.m., the event caused some disruption earlier in the evening.

As part of the safety measures, guests on the "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure" ride, which is based on the beloved animated film, were swiftly evacuated. Photos from the scene showed crowds walking through the backstage area, passing behind the Parisian set and the ride’s iconic backdrop.

No reports of injuries have been confirmed, and Disney officials acted quickly to contain the fire.