ST. GEORGE — A fire that destroyed a pickup truck behind a movie theater in St. George resulted in a temporary evacuation of theater patrons Tuesday afternoon.

The St. George Fire Department arrived at the Megaplex Theatres at Pineview on Red Cliffs Drive at about 2:35 p.m. and found a crew cab Ford pickup truck completely engulfed in flames close to the building and other vehicles, St. George Fire Battalion Chief Robert Hooper said.

While firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within minutes, the pickup was a complete loss. An SUV parked near the truck sustained minimal damage, and no damage was done to the building, Hooper said. No injuries were reported.

Due to smoke from the fire being smelled in some of the movie theaters, moviegoers were temporarily evacuated while firefighters checked the interior of the building for any signs of fire. Once they were satisfied the theater complex was safe, people were allowed to return to their films.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this point, though Hooper said it might have been electric in nature, as the former occupants of the pickup said they smelled something burning while driving to the theater.

The St. George Police Department also responded to the scene.

This report is based on statements from emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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