Fire Destroys South Tampa Restaurant Early Monday
In the early hours of Monday morning, a devastating fire broke out at Fresh Kitchen in South Tampa, leaving the restaurant completely destroyed. Tampa Fire Rescue was quick to respond to the structure fire at 4:45 a.m. in the 1300 block of S. Howard Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters were met with heavy smoke billowing from the two-story building, prompting a swift and coordinated response.
Response and Investigation
As the firefighters initially entered the building, it became evident that the situation was escalating rapidly. Out of an abundance of caution, all staff present were promptly evacuated from the premises. The severity of the fire necessitated a second alarm to be called, bringing in additional resources to combat the blaze. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the firefighters or any civilians in the vicinity.
Closure and Investigation Underway
After conducting thorough initial and secondary searches of the building, it was confirmed that there were no occupants inside at the time of the fire. However, due to the location of the building, the northbound and southbound lanes of S. Howard Ave had to be closed for several hours to ensure the safety of first responders and investigators on the scene.
As fire investigators from Tampa Fire Rescue arrived early Monday morning, the process of determining the cause of the fire began. The investigation will seek to uncover what led to the destructive blaze that engulfed Fresh Kitchen in South Tampa.
