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Panic gripped the iconic Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, this afternoon when a fire forced the facility's evacuation just three hours before the game between the home team Giants and the Atlanta Braves.
Initial press reports explain that a concession stand inside the stadium burst into flames around 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 p.m. PT). Fortunately, there were no spectators inside the stadium yet, as gates were scheduled to open later. The fire reportedly originated at Fuku, a Korean barbecue restaurant.
The fire forced the Giants to evacuate their clubhouse. A statement from the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) explained that firefighters "responded to a cooking fire in a vendor's booth at Oracle Park."
What will happen to the Braves-Giants game?
The SFFD confirmed, "The fire was confined to the cooking area, and no injuries were reported. The park was evacuated but will be reopened shortly. We thank the fantastic staff and fans for their cooperation during the evacuation at the direction of park staff and fire personnel."
The department reported that it was able to quickly assess the situation "and confirm that the fire was extinguished. There was no extension of the fire, no injuries, and the game will continue as scheduled."
Neither the Giants nor the Braves have issued any statement on the matter, and as reported by the SFFD, the game will start at the scheduled time. Photos on social media indicate that the damage was limited to the stand, although the images show that the area adjacent to the fire remains closed.