Orpheus parade delayed 33 minutes after float appears to catch fire on St. Charles Avenue

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Krewe of Orpheus parade came to a temporary stop Monday night (Feb. 20) after a float appeared to catch fire on St. Charles Avenue.

Parade goers posted videos showing the “Leviathan” -- the 14th float in the Orpheus lineup -- stalled and smoking in the 2500 block of St. Charles Avenue, between Second and Third Streets.

The Orpheus Leviathan is on fire. St Andrew and St Charles pic.twitter.com/zWscaKwS0i
— Allen Boyd (@AllenBoydNOLA) February 21, 2023

Leviathan in Orpheus caught on actual fire tonight. Like evacuate the riders and there were flames on fire. So there *may* be delays. #orpheus #kreweoforpheus pic.twitter.com/JSJRtWtE78
— Annette Wade (@annettewade) February 21, 2023

Witnesses also reported an incident during the earlier Krewe of Proteus parade, saying a float in that lineup backed into a bench near St. Charles Avenue and Peniston Street, injuring a spectator.

#Proteus stopped after hitting a parade goer#MardiGras pic.twitter.com/8ekMfQEdwi
— Dick Pemberton (@PembertonDick) February 21, 2023

New Orleans police and fire officials have not provided information on either incident.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Copyright 2023 WVUE. All rights reserved.