Last Updated: 8:39 p.m.
A fire broke out at Eagles Nest Storage on State Road 100 in Flagler Beach late this afternoon, burning or damaging seven or eight units. It was still burning at 7 p.m.
The overwhelming majority of the 653 units at the 100,000 square foot facility are unharmed and were not at risk as firefighters from Flagler Beach, Bunnell, Flagler County and Palm Coast were containing the blaze to the units where the fire originated, in Building D. There are seven buildings at the storage.
There were no injuries.
Cindy Dalecki/Marketing 2 Go
The fire broke out sometime between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. when a tenant was working on an older Volkswagen inside one of the units and something ignited, according to Kim Carney, the facilities manager at Eagles Nest. The tenants had been working at the unit, on the car, for most of the day. It’s not clear what went wrong. They used several of the facilities’ fire extinguisher, but the fire, which may have ignited surf boards inside the unit, proved uncontrollable.
When firefighters arrived they had to drill through several of the metal doors to gain access to adjacent storage units which, in building D, are among the larger at the facility: 10 by 30, with 11 feet high ceilings. Those who rent units have the right to hold on to their own keys, though some also provide a set to the facility for security. In many cases, keys were not available and firefighters had to drill through the doors.
Carney, who is also one of Flagler Beach’s two newest city commissioners, had just left for the day at 5:30 when she got a call from a friend who was at Publix, across the street, alerting Carney of the smoke rising from Eagles Nest, which will be celebrating its six anniversary in May. She quickly returned and started fielding calls to reassure tenants or relay what information firefighters were conveying. It wasn’t clear from the smoke or the damage how many unites precisely were damaged by fire and how many by smoke or water. By 6:45 p.m., firefighters were pulling charred furniture out of one unit.
One of the units in Building D, near the fire, belongs to the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce and Affiliates. Doug Baxter, president of the chamber, was at the scene. He said the unit stored 20,000 copies of the just-released Fantastic Flagler, a glossy, 120-page visitor and newcomer guide and one of the chamber’s signature publications. Some 3,000 phone books are also stored in the unit, as are the brochures for the chamber’s tourism department. As of 7 p.m., the information Baxter was getting from firefighters was that the unit was safe. Carney was less certain. And possibilities of water damage would have unwelcome consequences on the publications.
A firefighter stood poised to open a water cannon from Flagler Beach’s ladder truck, above Building D, should the fire emerge through the roof.
Some of the storage buildings are air conditioned, some are not. One of the buildings has a sprinkler system. The size of the storage units range from five feet by five feet to 14 by 50. The facility offers insurance, but most people decline, Carney said.
Eagles Nest has numerous out of state tenants. Carney said they can call at 439-7685 for information–and that Eagles Nest Storage will be open for business Thursday morning.
Click on the image for larger view. (© FlaglerLive)
Charlie says
FIRE CANNON??? I certainly hope it wasn’t the Fire Department that came up with that name. A deluge nozzle on an aerial platform truck would have been a more professional term. Anyway……good job guys!
Lewis says
Since when are you allowed to work on a vehicle inside a storage unit? I figure that is a prohibited use in the contract.
Steve Wood says
Well Charlie, it was the reporter that wrote it and not info that he got from the FFs. Everyone always has to nit pick a simple statement to make the FFs look bad. If you were not there then you need to keep your printer shut. It was a GOOD JOB DONE BY ALL WHO WERE WORKING THE FIRE as a mutual aid call.
Charlie says
Hey Steve……did you notice?? I sais ‘ Good job guys” . I am NOT saying that they did badly!! You need to understand the english language, I was a FF for 33 years…………and you are telling me something ?? Give me a break.
Steve Wood says
Let me guess you are from the NYFD. you also insinuated it came from the FFs. and yes why dont you give them a break.
joeblabla says
If he is not paid from NY then he must be just a Volunteer that knows nothing about fighting fire in Florida. I love you guys from up north that come here and tell us how to do our job!! Thank you!!!