Fire at Walt Disney World EPCOT’s France Pavilion Backstage Walk-In Cooler Quickly Extinguished

fire originated in a backstage walk-in cooler

ORLANDO • FLORIDA — A fire erupted backstage at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT on Saturday evening, sending a thick column of dark smoke into the sky above the World Showcase near the France Pavilion.

Photos and videos of the incident quickly surfaced on social media, capturing the dramatic moment from multiple viewpoints both inside and outside the park.

According to Disney officials, the fire broke out behind the France Pavilion within EPCOT’s World Showcase in the late afternoon. As a precaution, guests were evacuated from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a popular ride based on the animated film Ratatouille.

The blaze was brought under control and fully extinguished by 7:20 p.m., around 40 minutes after initial reports began circulating online. At the time, EPCOT was set to close at 9 p.m.

Officials confirmed that the fire originated in a backstage walk-in cooler. The exact cause remains under investigation, and it is not yet clear if any other backstage facilities were affected. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Evacuated guests were seen exiting through backstage areas behind the attraction, with some videos showing crowds walking past the Paris-themed scenery. The smoke was visible from various points across the park and surrounding areas.

The incident occurred during a busy period at EPCOT, coinciding with Spring Break and the ongoing International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs through June 2.

While the fire’s origin has been traced to the walk-in cooler, further details regarding the cause or additional damage have not been released.

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