A resident of a nearby apartment called police at 9:18 p.m. Tuesday saying flames could be seen at Vero Beach Laundry & Cleaners, 810 21st St., said Vero Beach Police Department Master Police Officer Darrell Rivers.
When firefighters arrived, both the laundromat and Kidz Closet of Vero Beach, 812 21st St., were engulfed.
“The fire conditions when (we) got there were manageable, then the fire got really heavy,” said Assistant Fire Chief Sean Gibbons. “Both businesses right now are total losses.”
A state fire marshal’s investigation is underway to determine the cause. It was delayed until Wednesday afternoon because it was “too dangerous to go in there” earlier, Gibbons said.
“It’s out, but there’s still little hot spots in the debris inside,” Gibbons said.
Residents in neighboring apartments just north of Eighth Avenue said they were asked to evacuate from roughly 10 pm. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday while firefighters disconnected power in the surrounding area.
“It was a long night,” said Matt Roy, 36.
Roy said he was returning home with subs from the nearby Publix when he noticed the fire. “This whole area was covered with smoke,” he said.
Christian McCarty, 21, lives in one of the apartments directly north and closest to the laundry and cleaners.
McCarty said he heard a “loud bang.” Within 10 minutes he said the dry cleaners shop was in flames and soon after, the van.
Gibbons said a gas company had examined the property and determined there was no gas leak.
Read the Original Article on TCPalm.com
