Popcorn machine causes SA cinema fire

An electrical fault in a popcorn machine caused a fire that forced the evacuation of an Adelaide cinema.

Patrons and staff at Event Cinemas in Marion fled as the fire took hold and the sprinkler system activated about 4pm on Thursday, but a cinema worker extinguished the small fire before firefighters arrived.

A Metropolitan Fire Service spokeswoman said the fire caused about $10,000 in damage.