An electrical fire at the Gabba has forced play in the Big Bash game between the Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes to be temporarily stopped. 

A stoppage of around five minutes came at the end of the fourth over of Hobart’s innings, when a fire broke out in an entertainment area set up for a DJ. 

Umpires halted play as Gabba staff attended to the blaze, which needed an extinguisher and fire blanket to control. 

Fox Sports journalist Eloise Sohier reported several fans at the sold-out Gabba needed to be removed from the area.

The DJ area was right above one of the scoreboards at the ground, with smoke billowing from the stands. 

Hobart secured a five-wicket win at the Gabba, chasing down Brisbane’s total of 6-201. With scores level with one ball left in the match, Matthew Wade smacked a full toss from Xavier Bartlett for six to win the match for the visitors.

The Gabba is no stranger to odd stoppages during sporting fixtures.

An AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Demons was stopped in March 2023 following a power outage that sent the stadium into darkness.

Another fire broke out in the stands during half-time of a Lions match against Collingwood in 2015.