Crystal River fire: Explosions destroy honey facility
Honey business destroyed by fire
A commercial fire tore through a Crystal River honey processing facility on Sunday, triggering explosions and racking up over $1.2 million in structural and content losses, according to Citrus County Fire Rescue. FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis reports.
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. - A commercial fire tore through a Crystal River honey processing facility on Sunday, triggering explosions and racking up over $1.2 million in structural and content losses, according to Citrus County Fire Rescue.
Crystal River facility fire
What we know:
Citrus County Fire Rescue teams went to North Winterset Avenue at 8:20 a.m. after receiving reports of a massive commercial structure fire at the Foti Bess Inc. business.
First responders from Connell Heights arrived nine minutes later to find a large commercial building completely engulfed in thick flames and intense heat.
The facility housed agricultural gear, forklifts, commercial mowing equipment, bee boxes, honey-processing equipment, and honey storage, according to CCFR.
The Florida State Fire Marshal's Office is currently investigating what sparked the blaze.
A Citrus County Fire Rescue ladder truck operates in a defensive mode above the charred, smoking ruins of the completely destroyed agricultural and honey processing building. Image is courtesy of Citrus County Fire Rescue.
Firefighters face explosions
What we don't know:
Officials have not yet confirmed what caused the initial spark or if anyone was inside the building when the fire broke out.
Investigators have not released information on whether the facility had automated sprinkler systems or whether any hazardous materials violations existed prior to the incident.
Family business
The backstory:
Foti Bees was founded by Sarah Foti's father, Randall Foti, in the 1970s on a small island in Citrus County.
The family business faced another major challenge in 1993 when the so-called "No Name Storm," also referred to as the Storm of the Century, devastated much of the operation.
After relocating to property off North Winterset Avenue, Randall Foti continued building the business until his death in 2015, when ownership passed to his daughter.
Loss of family legacy
What they're saying:
Standing among the rubble, Sarah Foti reflected on the emotional toll of the fire.
"The memories in this shop is the hardest part today," Sarah said. "Everything that he [Randall] built was here. Now it's just burnt ash."
Sarah said she has often wondered what her father would do in the same situation and believes he would have pushed forward rather than give up.
Despite the destruction, Sarah said her family remains determined.
"It's a little overwhelming today, but we're pretty tenacious," Sarah Foti said.
Massive hazardous scene
Timeline:
The emergency response moved rapidly as hazards multiplied inside the burning facility.
- 8:20 a.m.: Emergency dispatchers send units to the commercial fire.
- 8:29 a.m.: Rescue 51 and Squad 7 arrive on the scene to find heavy fire.
- 1:49 p.m.: Incident commanders finally declared the fire under control after hours of defensive operations.
- 5:27 p.m.: Crews successfully extinguish the remaining hot spots.
- 5:46 p.m.: All fire units clear the North Winterset Avenue scene.
Defending nearby homes
Dig deeper:
As the facility burned, firefighters said they faced immediate danger from repeated explosions tearing through the structure.
Command units identified multiple compressed gas cylinders, large propane tanks and numerous drums filled with unknown contents.
Crews said they quickly set up collapse zones and shifted into a defensive mode to guard against the volatile conditions.
According to CCFR, a double-wide mobile home stood just 25 feet away from the fire.
Firefighters say radiant heat and flame impingement caused moderate exterior damage to the mobile home, but aggressive hose lines successfully prevented the fire from spreading inside the house.
Extensive overhaul operations were required due to a total roof collapse and the sheer volume of material packed inside the facility, according to CCFR.
Financial toll mounts
By the numbers:
The destruction had a massive financial impact on the local agricultural business.
- $716,770: Estimated total in structural damage to the commercial building.
- $544,000: Total financial loss for the equipment and inventory stored inside.
- 25: The number of feet separating the burning facility from a threatened mobile home.
What's next:
Not everything on the property was lost. Several trucks, a skid steer and Randall Foti's former home sustained only minor damage and were able to be saved.
Radiant heat from the commercial facility blaze melted and warped the vinyl siding on the exterior of a double-wide mobile home located just 25 feet away. Image of Citrus County Fire Rescue.
However, rebuilding will be a significant challenge because the property was not insured.
Even so, Sarah Foti says she plans to continue the business and preserve the legacy her father spent decades building.
The Source: This story was gathered from Citrus County Fire Rescue, which detailed the incident timeline and damage estimates, an interview with Sarah Foti, as well as information from the Crystal River Fire Department, which provided mutual aid personnel, apparatus and scene photographs.