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Fire Near Lowry Park Zoo Causes $2 Million In Damage

Tribune photo by KELVIN MA

Fire investigators were on the scene at the Lowry Park maintenance facility on North Boulevard, the day after a fire gutted the building.

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By JASON GEARY and NEIL JOHNSON of The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2008

Updated: 02/17/2008 08:16 pm

TAMPA - Fire officials say an electrical short sparked the Saturday night blaze at a city maintenance building at Lowry Park, causing an estimated $2 million in damage.

Three investigators from the city's fire marshal's office Sunday combed through the charred wreckage, which included 11 city vehicles and two personal vehicles, said Capt. Bill Wade, Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman. The maintenance area and the equipment it housed were destroyed.

The fire erupted about 7:30 p.m. at 7525 North Boulevard and was under control about two hours after it started. No injuries were reported.

The building is located across from Lowry Park Zoo but did not affect any animals at the zoo, though a zoo spokeswoman said helicopters circling overhead did cause stress to some animals.

The workers had parked there while assigned to the Krewe of Saint' Yago Illuminated Knight Parade in Ybor City Saturday night.

The building is mainly used by the city Parks and Recreation Department and included pool maintenance equipment, forklifts, chainsaws and other tools. Welding equipment and propane gas cylinders are believed to have caused explosions firefighters heard while fighting the fire.

In addition to the maintenance facility, offices in or near the building were damaged.

At the fire's height, 48 firefighters battled the blaze. Some crews remained on the scene overnight.

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