An article concerning Halloween Horror Nights VIII written by Cory Lancaster and Predro Ruz Gutierrez from the Orlando Sentinel:
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A worker at Universal Studios Florida was treated for minor smoke inhalation Tuesday after a parade float caught fire and scorched the outside of a nearby soundstage and several cars.
Orlando firefighters said the blaze that destroyed the 40-foot-long King Kong float was started about 4 p.m. Tuesday by two workers' welding torches.
The float was one of seven built for a nightly parade during Halloween Horror Nights, which begin Friday at the park.
An employee for the Kern Co., which builds floats for Universal, was treated and released from Sand Lake Hospital for minor smoke inhalation, a hospital spokesman said.
The second worker, an employee of Universal Studios, was not injured.
The fire also caused smoke damage and melted the paint on the front facade of Soundstage 24, in the back-lot area of the park. Five cars were slightly damaged, said Orlando Assistant Fire Chief Pete McNeil. No damage estimate was given.
Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said such a fire could not have occurred when the floats appear in the theme park because each one is sprayed with flame-retardant liquid after it is built. The Kong float had not yet received the spray.
The float, which was made of metal, fiberglass, wood and fake fur, was reduced to charred remains in the parking lot outside the soundstage. Only Kong's gigantic hand, lying nearby, was recognizable.
The fire did not affect the theme park's operations. Many visitors said they were unaware that a fire had occurred behind the Twister attraction.