Firefighter Injured During Furniture Store Blaze

TAMPA, FL — A Sunday night blaze at Southern Used Furniture caused an estimated $165,000 in damage and sent a firefighter to the hospital with minor injuries. According to Tampa Fire Rescue, the cause of the remains under investigation.

Authorities say the fire at the 8133 N. Nebraska Ave. business was reported around 10:35 p.m. June 18. The business owner was inside the building at the time the fire broke out, but was able to escape unharmed.

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Authorities say when firefighters arrived on the scene they found heavy smoke and flames shooting from the brick structure. A second alarm was called by the first crew that arrived.

“Crews gained entry to the building and began fighting the flames,” a Monday email from fire rescue said. “At one point, there was a flashover which caused firefighters to exit the building and fight from a defensive posture.”

Two aerial units were called in to put water on the fire through the building's collapsed roof. The Tampa Police Department’s air serve was also called in to provide aerial surveillance to enable firefighters on the ground to see where hot spots were, fire rescue said.

It took fire crews until 1 a.m. Monday to bring the blaze under control. The fire was contained to a single unit. The building, however, “is a total loss,” officials reported.

One firefighter, who hasn’t been identified, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

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Photo courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue