Fire investigators are working to find a cause of, what they are calling, a suspicious fire at an abandoned business in Orlando. It took eight fire engines to stop the two-alarm fire.
Firefighters spent more than two hours dousing flames, but they'd been there before and knew the building was weak and worried the roof would cave in on them. A fireball grew from the side of the old Red Lobster on Tuesday night. For a while, it looked like there was no stopping the blaze that covered the abandoned building.
Already weakened by four other fires, firefighters were reluctant to send anyone into harm's way.
"Having to use extreme care when we are dealing with something like this because it's been on fire in the past," said Asst. Chief Karl Ober of the Orange County Fire Rescue. "We have to use extreme caution. We'll pull big lines and pump a lot of water to bring the fire down."
Crews used two ladder trucks to pour water on the roof. Eight engines were called to the scene of the two-alarm blaze. Investigators said workers were tearing the building down and left for dinner. When they came back, it was glowing.
"We are wondering what they were using to tear the interior apart. If there was any welding or torches. If they left anything in the structure when they left for dinner," Ober added.
There is still no word on exactly what caused the fire at the old Red Lobster restaurant. Firefighters are calling it suspicious.
