A small fire caused guests and staff to be evacuated Monday from the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.
Firefighters were called to the zoo about 11:15 a.m. after a fire was detected by employees in an office area, said zoo spokeswoman Dawn Ream. Employees quickly extinguished the fire, she said.
A shorted-out light switch appears to have been the cause of the fire, Ream said.
No injuries were reported. Guests were allowed back into the jungle by 12:20 p.m.
“Although there were no zoo guests or animals in immediate danger, zoo staff immediately evacuated guests and staff from the entire Lied Jungle and associated offices, TreeTops restaurant, guest service area and ticketing as a precaution,” Ream said. “The fire-detection system in the Lied Jungle sounded an alarm in the building and notified the Omaha Fire Department.”
Ream said the TreeTops restaurant would remain closed for the rest of Monday but will be open for normal business hours Tuesday.
