3 days ago
Work in progress at burned business to get back on track
ST. LUCIE COUNTY − A large fire that ravaged a business on South U.S. 1 two months ago was determined to be accidental, caused by 'an unspecified electrical malfunction,' according to the St. Lucie County Fire District on Aug. 5.
Firefighters worked June 3 to extinguish the blaze at South East Pools & Spas in the 7300 block of South U.S. 1 north of Prima Vista Boulevard, Fire District officials said. Crews at 5:37 a.m. went to the location on the east side of South U.S. 1 after reports of smoke and flames.
Fire District Division Chief Donny Stefani at the time said the metal commercial structure was 50 percent involved in flames, which were coming from the roof of the yellow-and-blue building. The building sustained 'extensive damage' with roof collapses, he said.
'The fire cause has been determined to be accidental due to an unspecified electrical malfunction in the area of origin,' Capt. Fire Marshal Andres Elizondo stated in an e-mail forwarded Aug. 5 by an agency spokesperson.
Business co-owner Phillip Giles on Aug. 6 said efforts are ongoing to get things back on track.
'It's just been a process, something that I've never dealt with before, but we're working through it, just getting through with insurance and also just kind of getting what we need permit wise,' Giles said.
Giles has said the local building has been in operation about eight or nine years. Giles has said it's a family-owned business with other locations in the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Tampa areas.
Hot tub and swim spa sales constitute their main business, but they also service pool equipment.
Giles said they have been working to open in a smaller building in front of the burned structure.
'We got our permit approved … and we are actually going to be getting product in this week and having our reopening event up there,' he said.
He said they've gotten demolition permits, but are waiting for insurance related issues 'so that we can go ahead and get in there and start knocking down that structure.'
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They plan to build a new facility with modifications and upgrades and with a new look.
Giles anticipated within 30 to 45 days the burned building should be knocked down, and they can start working on permitting issues for a new building.
'We've just got to be compliant. We don't want to have any issues with the county,' he said. 'We want to make sure they're happy and if they're happy, then we can … go out there and go sell and make our customers happy.'
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Efforts underway to rebuild after huge fire at South East Pools & Spas
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