Overview

• Initial social media footage showed a dense plume of black smoke appearing over the Dark Universe area of Epic Universe, stoking rumors of an on-site fire.
• Inside the Magic reported from multiple eyewitnesses that the smoke originated from a gas station just beyond the resort’s perimeter, not within the park.
• Universal Orlando Resort later confirmed that a fire at the Epic Universe bus depot destroyed two buses branded for its electric fleet.
• The Orange County Fire Department extinguished the blaze swiftly, with the resort reporting no injuries or evacuations.
• Intense scrutiny on Epic Universe’s launch underscores the importance of prompt, verified updates during unexpected incidents.