ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Officials say a large fire that broke out at a Badcock and More furniture store on Kinglsey Avenue in Orange Park just after 1 p.m. Saturday has destroyed the business.
The store was open when the fire started, but there was no word on where or how it began.
No injuries were reported, although officials said some of the 100 firefighters that responded were treated for heat exhaustion. A total of 48 units were sent to the scene, some from Jacksonville Fire-Rescue. Many will remained on scene throughout the evening to ensure the fire didn't re-ignite.
Crews worked for several hours to put it out and some of the fire fighters suffered from heat exhaustion because of the hot temperatures today.
Even though fire crews said there is still some furniture in-tact inside the store, none of it is useable.
"Right now I think the important thing is we got businesses on both sides of this (fire)," Deputy Chief David Motes with Clay Fire Rescue, said. "The fact that they're still there -- I think we're going to focus on our achievements right now and thank goodness nobody was injured."
Crews were at the scene during the evening boarding up windows and trying to salvage what's left of the building. Clay County Fire Rescue said the building has been turned back over to the owners.