Photo: WEAR
A Gulf Breeze antique mall caught fire Saturday night just off Highway 98.
The blaze broke out on the business’s third anniversary.
Now the store owners and more than 20 local vendors are waiting to see if they can recoup some of their livelihood.
“It was clearly a pretty legitimate working fire,” Midway Fire District Chief Shannon Stone said.
The Midway Fire District got called out to 98 Treasures just after 8 p.m.
A 911 call reported heavy smoke pouring out of the building.
“I want to say roughly an hour and a half before, but they had closed up and closed shop for the day, and then around 8 o’clock or so, some bystanders apparently must have noticed the smoke pushing pretty hard from the building and resulted in our response,” Stone said.
Store owners A and T had just left for the day.
“We hadn’t been gone an hour, and so it just didn’t seem real,” A said. “We didn’t think it was possible that we just left. I think everything happened after we shut the doors, turned off the power, and left the area. Got home, turned right back around.”
The Holley-Navarre Fire District and the Avalon Beach Fire Department assisted in putting out the blaze.
Midway Fire District Chief Shannon Stone says the crews put out the fire within 20 minutes of arriving, but the damage was done.
“The state fire marshal, once they complete the report, will give you all the details, but preliminary reports look like there was some type of electrical short, which started the fire, and the fire burned for a good amount of time undetected,” Stone said. “That contributes to a lot of the damage up in the attic area of this building.”
Stone estimates the building will be a total loss.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s going to be a loss. The fire originated in the attic, a loft-type area,” Stone said. “What happened was it essentially started burning under the roof for a considerable amount of time, and obviously the integrity of the structure.”
The extent of the damage inside has yet to be determined.
“We’re sorting through it a little bit,” T said. “Of course we need it to be a safe environment for us to be able to get in there and get all of their things. So we don’t really know yet.”
More than 20 local vendors were represented in the antique mall.
T says it’ll be a few days before anyone can get inside of the building.
“We’re going to get somebody out to clean out the things that could be dangerous falling from the ceiling and what not,” T said. “There’s water, so you know people can slide. We don’t want anybody to fall, or you know, there are nails obviously and just hazards that we just want to make sure are safe for everybody to be able to check them out.”
Saturday was 98 Treasures’ three-year anniversary.
T hopes they can reopen at some point.
“It’s not pretty right now. But we’ll just have to take it day by day,” T said.
No injuries were reported in that fire.
The state fire marshal’s office is handling the investigation.
Your Legal Resource After a Fire Accident
If you’ve been injured in a fire accident, Ovadia Law Group is your trusted legal resource. Our personal injury attorneys are experienced in handling fire-related cases and provide expert guidance every step of the way. We understand the physical and emotional toll these incidents can cause and are committed to helping you recover. Our team investigates the fire, identifies liable parties, and builds a strong case to support your claim. We fight for compensation that covers medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. You deserve justice, and we’re here to help you get it. Call us today at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation and let Ovadia Law Group provide the legal support you need. We’re dedicated to helping fire accident victims move forward with confidence and peace of mind.
Source: Weartv
