A fire Oct. 28 in the resin room of the A.P. Bell Fish Co. in Cortez took out the one-room building’s roof and door, as well as a resin drum, causing an estimated $5,000-$10,000 in damages, according to West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshal Jim Davis.
No injuries were reported.
The fire started just after 5 p.m. Oct. 28 in a locked storage room at the fish processing company at 4600 124th St. W., Cortez. Among the burned items were stored fiberglas, resin and acetone — “a lot of nasty stuff,” Davis said.
Bell first called 911 and the U.S. Coast Guard station next door to the fish house on the waterfront also reported the fire.
WMFR was dispatched at 5:27 p.m.
Four engines, including one from each of three WMFR stations and one from Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue, arrived on scene with 16-18 firefighters.
“It looked more impressive than it was,” Davis said. “That stuff burns really, really black and hot, but it was contained to one room. They were able to put the fire out with one hose and the tank water from the engine, so we didn’t even need to hook a hydrant.”
Owner Karen Bell said she saw smoke rising from the roof of the 20-by-20-foot one-room concrete building from her office.
“I could see the flames coming from the roof line,” she said.
“We don’t know what started it, we’ve had it there for years,” Bell said. “It’s definitely freaky to see flames shooting out of your roof.”
Smoke was still pouring from the room Oct. 29 in the early morning hours. The materials stored in the room were used for boat repairs.
“There must have been something that ignited it,” Bell said. “The fire marshal told us these types of chemicals typically won’t just catch fire.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
— Bianca Benedí