Theater's popcorn machine catches fire

No one was hurt, and the damage was minimal. But the blaze forced the evacuation of the theater at Tyrone Square Mall.

By ED QUIOCO

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Ashley and Brittany Beachum and three friends planned to spend Sunday afternoon watching Love and Basketball, a movie about the romance between childhood friends who grow into talented ballplayers.

Their Easter plans had a different ending.

A popcorn machine caught on fire at the AMC theater inside Tyrone Square Mall, forcing the evacuation of about 30 moviegoers and employees at 3:36 p.m., according to St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue officials. A sprinkler directly above the popcorn machine quickly doused the fire, and there were no reported injuries.

"The sprinkler head did its job and confined the fire to a small area as opposed to spreading," said St. Petersburg fire Capt. Michael Zamparelli."It kept the fire minor. Had there not been a sprinkler here, Tyrone mall might have been in danger."

The front counter popcorn machine was blackened by the fire and the concession stand was soaked with water from the sprinkler. Firefighters helped clear the water, which poured into the mall hallway next to the food court.

AMC officials at the scene did not want to comment.

Ashley, 14, of St. Petersburg, her sister and their friends were standing near the theater waiting for the 4:30 p.m. show when flames erupted from the popcorn machine. She said smoke filled the mall hallway and fire alarms rang throughout the mall.

"It just looked like flames going up," Ashley said. "Everybody had to run out of the theater."

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