LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. --
Thousands of pounds of food stored by the Daily Bread Food Bank were ruined in a fire that broke out Thursday night at a Lauderdale Lakes warehouse.
The blaze started just after 9 p.m. at the warehouse in the 3000 block of Northwest 27th Avenue.
The warehouse held many boxes of chemicals and combustible materials. The Daily Bread Food Bank facility located next to the warehouse lost about 93,000 pounds of food due to smoke and fire damage. Representatives said Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue, along with Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, said they would help them try to replace the food.
In addition to several fire trucks, a chemical foam tanker from Port Everglades came to fight the flames. Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue's hazardous materials team and technical rescue team also responded.
The flames and heat topped at 1,000 degrees, Local 10's Terrell Forney reported. Several firefighters had heat exhaustion, but no serious injuries were reported.
Firefighters spent hours dousing the hot spots. The Broward Sheriff's Office said most of the fire damage was contained to two bays in the warehouse. The building where the fire broke out houses about 12 businesses, BSO said.
Late Friday afternoon, fire investigators said the fire began when an employee of a construction business at the warehouse discarded what he thought was an extinguished cigarette into a trash can. It smoldered for several hours before the fire ignited. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental.
To help replace the food lost in the fire, the food bank will hold a food drive on Saturday and Sunday at its location in Pembroke Park, 2501 SW 32nd Terrace, according to Executive Dir. Judith Gatti. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For information, call 888-633-9861.
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