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Night Blaze Engulfs Gas Station's Convenience Store

By Jo-Ann Johnston / Tampa Tribune

Firefighter Todd Fortner dons a fresh air pack as a fire rips through the a convenience store on McIntosh and Newsome roads near Interstate 4.

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By RAY REYES and JO-ANN JOHNSTON / Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2007

DOVER - Hillsborough County Fire Rescue units were working Friday night to extinguish a two-alarm fire that started shortly before 8 p.m. at a Raceway gas station store on McIntosh and Newsome roads near Interstate 4.

No injuries were reported. Customers and employees exited the store before the flames spread and at no time was there any threat of the gasoline pumps igniting, Capt. Bruce Delk said.

An employee told investigators that the fire started in a rear office then spread into concealed spaces above the ceiling, Delk said. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Store owner Anil Kesarwani watched from the street as the store he has owned for four years was engulfed in flames.

"It's very horrible," said Kesarwani, who lives in Valrico. He said it is uncertain how long it will take for him and his family to recover from the loss.

Heavy smoke blanketed the area, making it difficult for firefighters to locate the source of the blaze when they first arrived at the scene, Delk said.

The building had been remodeled several times, creating hidden areas that were hard to extinguish, Delk said.

At least 14 firetrucks and about 40 firefighters responded to the rural area just west of Plant City to fight the "stubborn fire," Delk said.

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