the Raptors-Pacers match stopped by the start of a fire, the public evacuated

The NBA meeting between the Raptors and the Pacers this Saturday was interrupted for almost an hour due to the start of a fire. The game was finally able to resume but without an audience.

The NBA regular season game between the Raptors and the Pacers was easily won on Saturday by Toronto 131-91, after resuming without spectators, who were evacuated calmly due to the start of a fire. The interruption, which lasted just over an hour, was decided in the middle of the second quarter of a game dominated by the Raptors (66-38).

In question: flames coming out of the grid of one of the many speakers fixed to the ceiling, a few meters above the highest rows of seats in the room. The fire alarms then sounded.

Firefighters evacuated the room

Due to an equipment problem, the firefighters are asking everyone present to evacuate the building calmly via the nearest stairwell. There is no threat to public safety », indicated the message transmitted on the giant screens of the room, which can contain 19,800 spectators.

« No injuries were reported, » the City of Toronto Police Operations Center added in a tweet. The Canadian franchise has promised that all tickets will be refunded within 30 days.

The meeting was finally able to resume and the Raptors confirmed their domination, thanks to Pascal Siakam (23 pts) and Scottie Barnes (19 pts). In the standings of the Eastern Conference, it’s a great operation for the Raptors, who take advantage of the defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Chicago Bulls (94-98), to delight them with sixth place, synonymous with automatic qualification for the play-offs. , without going through the play-in.