Soundstage 21 on fire

[NemoRocks78]

There was a fire tonight in Soundstage 21 during the TNA Hard Justice PPV. It was caused by the opening pyro. Here's more from Wrestling Exposed:

As noted, the TNA iMPACT! zone caught fire during the opening moments of the PPV due to pyro. The announcers stalled due to the fire in the building, in fact, Don West looked confused as to what was going on. Tenay talked about the upcoming tag team match. They shifted discussion to Sting/Jarrett, and showed another highlight reel. The pre-show video played over and over again as the fans were evacuated from the building.

They shot back to Mike Tenay and Don West in the parking lot and aired a video of what happened earlier. They stalled some more and we were told the building was cleared and fans were re-entering the arena.

Wrestlers in full-gear and fire trucks were seen outside during all of this.

 

[JROK]

Dang! I wonder if the actual SS21 caught fire, or if it was part of the set that did... That sucks... That's the dangers that come with using indoor pyro... Glad nobody was injured... Hope they have insurance

 

[NemoRocks78]

From the Miami Herald:

Fire interrupts TNA pay-per-view
BY SCOTT FISHMAN
Miami Herald Writer

ORLANDO - A small fire interrupted the opening match of the TNA pay-per-view Hard Justice on Sunday, Aug. 13 from Universal Studios.

While Eric Young and Johnny Devine battled in the ring, a flame appeared on the padding of a pillar above the ring of Soundstage 21. The sparks from the pyro to open the show was the probable cause of the minor blaze.

Devine and Young wrestled while remnants from the fire extinguisher snowed the ring. A heavy smoke began to fill the iMPACT Zone.

Devine and Young finished the match with Young winning and saving his job.

For precautionary measures, TNA officials, security and firefighters evacuated the building in an orderly manner. Firefighters evaluated the situation while TNA officials asked fans to wait outside the studio.

After a 15-minute delay, fans were allowed to return, and the show continued. The incident did not deter the mood of the live crowd, but some fans were annoyed because they lost their good seats. Seating is first come, first serve.

Several wrestlers and Jeremy Borash posed for photos with fans and spoke to them during the investigation. No one was injured.

• Christian blamed Jeff Jarrett because Jarrett did not want to lose the title. Someone blamed Eric Young because Young didn't want to lose his job, and a fan blamed Vince McMahon because McMahon didn't want to lose to TNA.

Press release from TNA:

AUGUST 13, 2006
FIRE HITS LIVE TNA PAY-PER-VIEW
Universal Studios fans evacuated, then return for pro wrestling action

ORLANDO, Fla. – A small burlap bag caught on fire Sunday night during a Total Nonstop Action (TNA) pay-per-view pro wrestling match, held live at Universal Studios.

The fire, which happened above the ring near the roof, was immediately extinguished while TNA fans spontaneously sang the words from a classic 1980s song, ‘The roof, the roof, The roof is on fire.’

The fire broke out about 10 minutes after the “Hard Justice” show started. Eric Young and Johnny Devine, in the ring during the fire, finished their match, even though visibility had been cut to less than a foot or two.

The Orlando Fire Department arrived to examine the building and the crowd was calmly escorted out of the building, a first in live pay-per-view history.

Less than 30 minutes later, fans were given the all-clear by the Orlando Fire Department and they returned to their seats for the remainder of TNA’s Hard Justice.

“This was a first in my pro wrestling career – fans escorted out of a building, then brought back in – and I thought I had seen just about everything in this business,” said NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett, whose family has been pro wrestling promoters for 40 years.

No one was injured and the show actually never stopped while Fire Department officials examined the building. Broadcasters Mike Tenay and Don West stood outside the building during the commotion, right next to fire trucks, reporting minute-by-minute updates to worldwide fans and also interviewing TNA wrestlers during the commotion.

“Hard Justice 2006 will go down in history as the greatest night in TNA history to date,” said TNA broadcaster Mike Tenay. “We started the pay-per-view, had a fire and then basically became on-the-scene reporters. When the matches resumed, it turned into one of the best shows of all time.”

 

[NemoRocks78]

It was funny, I was watching the PPV at home with friends and all the sudden we see this smoke coming down and we thought it was a part of the show. :lol: The wait sucked though, they played the same 10-minute-long Sting vs. Jeff Jarrett promo video (the same one they played during the pre-show and the same one they played on iMPACT! last Thursday :hammer: ) twice before coming back on outside during the chaos.

 

[NemoRocks78]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Theme-park fire sends worker to hospital
Posted August 14, 2006

Orlando -- A worker at Universal Studios in Orlando was taken to a hospital Sunday night for treatment of smoke inhalation after extinguishing a small fire on a catwalk above a soundstage. Wrestling matches were occurring at the time.

The fire started about 8:15 p.m. when a burlap sandbag, used as ballast, was ignited by a hot light, Orlando Fire Department Assistant Chief Skip Kerkhof said.

The worker, whose name was not released, used a dry-chemical extinguisher.

No one else was injured, and the wrestling matches resumed after firefighters cleared the smoke and the chemicals from the area, Kerkhof said.

Jeannette Rivera-Lyles, Amy L. Edwards and Gary Taylor of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

 

[drew81]

I'm glad they got to have the show.

 

[Madison]

I don't understand how they could have remained in the building to finish the match. That seems among the stupidest things imaginable.

 

[Chape19714]

I don't understand how they could have remained in the building to finish the match. That seems among the stupidest things imaginable.

I agree 100%

Now if only we could get the wand to catch...:lookaroun

That's the dangers associated with lighing and showbiz. Hope the worker is alright.

 

[BCNHF]

I saw a video of it on YouTube and cracked up because of the fans. The "Da Roof, Da Roof, Da Roof is on fire" and "You can't see us " chants where just too much :lol:

 

[NemoRocks78]

I saw a video of it on YouTube and cracked up because of the fans. The "Da Roof, Da Roof, Da Roof is on fire" and "You can't see us " chants where just too much :lol:

"You can't see us" chants were awesome, everyone was doing the Cena hand motion. :lol: All Impact Zone chants are great really....when Steiner and Sting were brawling a few weeks back a "Monday Nitro!" chant started. :lol: