A San Antonio movie theater was evacuated last night, leaving locals who were excited to watch the new Spider-Man installment having to find their way home and try again on a brand new day. Here’s what we know about what really happened.
The San Antonio Fire Department responded to the Santikos Mayan Palace 14 theater on the city’s Southside on Tuesday, August 4. Moviegoers appeared to be evacuated from the theater.
Social media videos show theater patrons filing out of the building and forming a crowd in the parking lot. A San Antonio Fire Department engine, presumably from the nearby Station 25 based on the number emblazoned on its side, is also visible. In one video, SAFD personnel are seen exiting the fire engine and walking through the crowd towards the theater. One commenter said, “We were in the middle of the spiderman movie and the alarm went off, there was a long line for the refund.” Continuing, they noted that “it just kinda ruined the whole movie.” Another called the event “Spider-Man: Everyone Goes Home.”
So what really happened? MySA got in touch with SAFD, who told us that they responded to the Mayan Palace around 8:57 p.m. “Notes just say someone pulled a fire alarm. Was a false call,” the spokesperson said. MySA also reached out to Santikos, which owns the theater and nearly 10 others in the area, but did not immediately receive a response.
Find it: 1918 SW Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78221
By Texas law, it’s a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly initiate or circulate a false report of a fire or other emergency that would prompt action by an official or volunteer emergency agency, cause fear of bodily injury or prevent public access to a building, gathering space or mode of transportation. That offense is bumped up to a state felony if it involves an institution of higher learning, public primary or secondary school, public communications, public transportation or public water, gas or power supply.