Anaheim : Fire Burns Bushes in Disneyland Parking Lot

A fire along the perimeter of Disneyland’s parking lot burned a stretch of oleander bushes, temporarily stopped the park’s monorail ride and interrupted a fire station’s Thanksgiving dinner Thursday afternoon.

Capt. Robert Hernandez of the city’s Fire Department said the fire burned a 50-foot stretch of the bushes along West Street, underneath the raised monorail track and near a parking lot exit.

Although the cause has not been officially determined, firefighters suspect it to be “a discarded cigarette,” Hernandez said.

The blaze started in the dead underbrush of the bushes, “and it flamed up pretty good,” spreading along the strip of foliage, Hernandez said. Two fire engines were called to the scene and extinguished the flames in 15 minutes, he said.

The monorail ride was temporarily shut down because of the fire, he said.

Hernandez said fire was reported about 2:15 p.m.--just as Station No. 3’s firefighters were about to take their turkey out of the oven and begin their Thanksgiving feast. The roast bird and trimmings stayed warm until the hungry firefighters returned from their duties, he said.