Illuminations barge explodes

[NoelGypsy]

I just read this article :
http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/articleViewer.php?aid=267
Explosion rocks Epcot in Walt Disney World!
09/19/2005
As reported early this morning at DisneyWorldTrivia.com, the inferno barge, responsible for many of the spectacular effects for the Illuminations fireworks show in the World Showcase lagoon, exploded today at Epcot. The explosion could be heard thoughout the park and nearby Boardwalk resort area.
There have been no reports of any injuries at this time. The barge sits in the middle of the lagoon, far from Guests, but does normally contain two Cast Members inside during the show.

Is this true? Is Illuminations still running, or is it shut down?

 

[mattsdragon]

There's a thread about this in rumors. Apparantly the blow off that they normally do didn't happen at night. I guess they are still running it just withoug the barge.

 

[SamIAm21]

Oh my gosh! I hope everyone is okay!! Illuminations was a wonderful show and I this does not permanently damage it.

 

[BluOrchid2]

We just saw Illuminations on Saturday the 24th, this past Saturday, so it is still going.

 

[ralfrick]

From www.*************

"20 September 2005: Reflections of Earth technical problems

Yesterday around 4pm, there was an explosion on the inferno barge in the World Showcase Lagoon. The problem was with the Air Launch Firework (ALF) system on the inferno barge. The ALF shell exploded whilst still inside the launch tube. Thankfully nobody was injured, but it is a reminder on the dangers the pyro crews around WDW face on a daily basis.

Both ALF systems (on the UK pavilion and on the inferno barge), have been pulled from the show whilst investigations are ongoing."

There are some eye witness accounts on the boards there. There being wdwmagic

Cheers.

 

[Windy City Heather]

We were at Epcot that day but then went to MK for Spectro. I did see it the next night. We also heard no talk of this when we were there.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Is this true? Is Illuminations still running, or is it shut down?

Yes, it is true, the barge is no longer part of the presentation, but IllumiNations still is performed without the Flame Barge. If you never say IllumiNations, you would never miss it. The presentation still is very powerful and moving. Let's hope that the barge can be repaired.

 

[NandP]

The show just was not the same without it !

But it was still great !

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I actually noticed the loss of the ALF system from the top of the UK pavillion more than I noticed the loss of the inferno barge. (despite the fact that there's only 1 shell that is launched from that particular location)

The inferno barge, even before this incident, would sometimes not be used during the show, and when it was working, at least from a photography standpoint, it made it much more difficult to photo that part of the show.