The 36th Big Bash League match between Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes at The Gabba, Brisbane, faced an unexpected halt due to a fire near the stands. The incident occurred at around 4:11 IST (10:41 GMT) when Hobart Hurricanes were chasing 202 runs and were off to a strong start, reaching 47/0 in 4 overs.

The fire broke out near the DJ area, prompting quick action by police and security teams. Spectators seated in the affected section were evacuated as a safety measure. Players remained on the field initially, but the game was paused while the situation was brought under control. Fortunately, no major damage occurred, and the fire was extinguished swiftly.
Play was delayed at The Gabba when a fire broke out in the stands. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/v2J2OktfuF
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 16, 2025
Caleb Jewell (25 off 14) and Mitchell Owen (20 off 10) had set a blistering pace for the Hurricanes. The required run rate stood at 9.69 before the interruption. Officials confirmed that no overs were lost, and the match would resume after a short delay. With the Hurricanes needing 155 more runs to win at a required run rate of 9.69.