Videos show a huge Disneyland prop bursting into flames during a live show in California, which left workers needing treatment for smoke inhalation

• A 45-foot animatronic dragon was engulfed in flames during a show at Disneyland California.
• "It was a big giant fireball," one spectator told the LA Times. "It was shocking."

A 45-foot animatronic dragon burst into flames during a live show at Disneyland California on Saturday night.

Multiple staff members were treated for smoke inhalation, a spokesperson for the Anaheim Police Department and Anaheim Fire and Rescue told Insider. The New York Times reported that at least six staff members needed treatment. These workers did not require further evaluation, the spokesperson said.

The fire happened close to the end of the "Fantasmic!" show when Mickey Mouse fights a dragon called Maleficent. The dragon breathes fire during the show.

But during Saturday's performance, the dragon's fiery breath spread across its head and ultimately set the rest of its body alight, videos posted online show. The dragon ended up being engulfed in flames.

"It was a big giant fireball," Ryan Laux, a guest at the theme park who watched Saturday's show, told the Los Angeles Times.

"It was shocking," he added. "The crowd was in a standstill. People are packed in like sardines."

Some spectators thought it was meant to happen.

Elaine Gilmer told local news outlet ABC News that she had seen the show more than 100 times and that she initially thought the smoke and flames were simply new pyrotechnic effects.

"We saw some small explosions coming out of the head, and then, all of a sudden, the whole dragon was just engulfed," she told the outlet.

Many guests continued watching the dragon as the fire spread over its body, with some shocked gasps and cries of "oh no," videos of the incident show.

Shortly after, the park told visitors over the loudspeaker that the show was ending. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, this performance of 'Fantasmic!' will not continue," the announcement said, according to videos posted on TikTok.

Disneyland immediately evacuated staff from the area and closed the part of the park where the fire happened, but the rest of the park continued operating as usual, a Disneyland spokesperson told Insider.

"We are temporarily suspending fire effects similar to those used at Disneyland park's 'Fantasmic!' at select shows and entertainment experiences globally out of an abundance of caution," the spokesperson said. Performances of the "Fantasmic!" show have been removed from Disney's online schedule.

No one appeared to be injured and officials are investigating the cause of the fire, the police and fire spokesperson told Insider.