A fire tore through two game booths on the State Fair of Texas Midway early Tuesday, about three hours before the gates were due to open at Fair Park. No one was injured.
Dallas Fire-Rescue crews were sent to the fairgrounds at about 7:08 a.m., NBC 5 reported, and arrived to a tall column of black smoke. Flames were coming from a balloon-pop game stand. Firefighters had the fire out by about 7:30 a.m., and investigators later said an electrical short caused it, according to the department.
The balloon-pop stand was destroyed along with its prizes, including large stuffed animals, CBS News Texas reported. Fair officials said a second game booth was also heavily damaged and was torn down. Crews stayed on scene for some time afterward, soaking hot spots that kept smoldering inside the stuffed toys.
Fair opened on schedule
Organizers said the fire would not change Tuesday's hours. The gates opened at 10 a.m. and the Midway at 11 a.m., as planned.
A section of the Midway near the greenhouse and the historic carousel was closed while investigators finished their work and crews cleaned up. Fair officials said neither the greenhouse nor the carousel was damaged, and staff were posted nearby to steer visitors around the closed area.
"The safety of our fairgoers, vendors, volunteers, and team members remains our top priority," fair officials said in a statement.
