WE'RE PRETENDING THIS IS GANDALF IN THE HOBBIT
A large tree caught fire today near the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride queue in Islands of Adventure, spurring an immediate evacuation.
The incident occurred in the outdoor section of the queue, near the Herbology Classroom area, just before 7:30 p.m. Contrary to the headline, lightning is believed to have sparked the flames and not a rogue wizard or student.
A parkgoer’s footage shows the tree ablaze and thick smoke rising, which prompted ride operators to halt Forbidden Journey operations and lead guests out of the area. The Fire Department arrived swiftly and declared the scene secure within 30 minutes and no injuries were reported.
This tree fire adds to a spate of recent incidents at Universal Orlando. On July 25, two of the resort’s new electric shuttle buses near Epic Universe caught fire in the bus depot, believed to be related to their lithium battery systems. Both vehicles were severely damaged with roofs burned off and windows shattered, but no one was injured.
Universal officials released a brief statement emphasizing gratitude for the Orange County Fire Department’s swift response and reiterated that guest and staff safety remains the top priority.
