Small fire disrupts Oakland zoo ride

Everyone got safely off a chairlift-style ride this afternoon at the Oakland Zoo after a small fire occurred in the engine that propels the ride, zoo officials said.

Firefighters responded at 4:04 p.m. to the zoo at 9777 Golf Links Road.

Battalion Chief Ian McWhorter said zoo employees put out the fire and started an auxiliary system to get passengers off.

Zoo spokeswoman Erin Harrison said no one was injured on the ride that has been there since the 1970s. Harrison said the ride is inspected every year and it will be closed until an investigation is complete.

McWhorter said firefighters were there just to be sure everyone got off the ride safely and zoo employees didn’t need additional services.

Harrison said the ride was not the new gondola ride that opened in June and takes visitors to the California Trail expansion.