BEVERLY, Mass. (AP) -- A malfunctioning fog machine stored under the stage caused a fire that did $3 million worth of damage to the North Shore Music Theater, fire officials say.
The machine was probably left on after a performance earlier on Thursday night and sparked an electrical fire, said Beverly Fire Department spokesman Paul Rideout. The fire has been ruled an accident.
It could not be determined whether the fog machine had been left on after Thursday's performance of ''Cinderella,'' but ''Common sense would tell you it probably wasn't turned off,'' Rideout said.
Either a spark or heat from the machine set the revolving, wooden and metal stage ablaze, he said.
The fire destroyed the building's hydraulic stage and 1,800 seats and caused extensive smoke and water damage, forcing the postponement of all shows through late August.
The fire started about 90 minutes after ''Cinderella'' let out, and the building was locked and empty at the time. No one was injured. The building's sprinkler system probably prevented more extensive damage, Rideout said.
Fire crews from 11 communities responded to the three-alarm blaze.
