Popcorn Machine Fire Draws Crews To Fallston Movie Theater

FALLSTON, MD — Firefighters were called to the Fallston mall shopping center Tuesday morning after a popcorn machine caught fire, officials said. The blaze occurred at Horizon Cinemas.

Crews were dispatched before 11:30 a.m. for a report of a building fire at the movie theater in the 2300 block of Belair Road, according to the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company.

A popcorn machine had caught fire, triggering the sprinkler system to go off, the fire company reported.

When firefighters from Fallston and Joppa-Magnolia arrived, the sprinklers were flowing and had put out the fire, officials said.

After noon, Fallston fire personnel reported crews were helping with ventilation and cleanup from the incident.

A flaming popcorn machine is not unheard of. Just last week, a New Jersey movie theater was reportedly cleared out for an evening after a malfunctioning commercial popcorn maker filled the AMC facility with smoke.

Popcorn machines at Horizon Cinemas in Fallston have been getting a workout, as the theater is offering a free small popcorn with each ticket purchase to celebrate its one-year anniversary. The offer runs from Friday, March 9, to Thursday, March 15.

Photos courtesy of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company and the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.