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Fire destroys Clearwater treatment center, causing over $1 million in damage: CFR

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Published  April 20, 2025 11:17am EDT
Clearwater
FOX 13 News

Fire destroys treatment center

FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez has the latest after a fire caused more than $1 million in damages at a treatment center.

The Brief

    • A Clearwater treatment center was evacuated after a fire broke out on Sunday morning, according to Clearwater Fire Rescue.
    • 17 residents and five employees were able to get out of the building and fire crews say they believe it started in the kitchen.
    • The fire was reported to authorities at around 5 a.m. and it took two hours to bring down the flames, as over 20 agencies responded to the scene.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Fairwinds Treatment Center in Clearwater was evacuated on Sunday morning after a fire broke out, according to Clearwater Fire Rescue.

Seventeen residents and five employees were able to get out of the building and fire crews say they believe it started in the kitchen.

The fire was reported to authorities at around 5 a.m. and it took two hours to bring down the flames, as over 20 agencies responded to the scene.

A Clearwater treatment center was evacuated after a fire broke out on Sunday morning, according to Clearwater Fire Rescue.

The middle of the building suffered a partial roof collapse after crews responded to flames shooting into the attic.

A Clearwater treatment center was evacuated after a fire broke out on Sunday morning, according to Clearwater Fire Rescue.

Clearwater Fire Rescue Division Chief David Kadau told FOX 13 that the middle of the building is a total loss.

What they're saying:

"As the scene progressed, the fire got worse. We went ahead and changed our mode of operation to defensive. And that's when we had a partial roof collapse in the center of the structure," Kadu said. "But right now, we went to total of three alarms. We got over 20 units that were here assisting us with the fire."

Dig deeper:

Investigators say the preliminary cause has been ruled accidental, possibly an electrical issue with the industrial freezer.

Damage to the building is estimated to be over $1 million.

As for the patients, they won't be able to return to the facility right now, but the property manager says they are working to get them elsewhere.

The treatment center is for addiction rehab and some residents were about to be discharged anyway.

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South Fort Harrison Ave. is back open between Belleair Road and Woodlawn Ave.

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The Source: Information for this story was provided by Clearwater Fire Rescue.

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