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Fire Near Lowry Park Zoo Causes $2 Million In Damage

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By JASON GEARY and NEIL JOHNSON of The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2008

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 N. Boulevard and was under control in about two hours. No injuries were reported.

The building is 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 Sant' Yago Illuminated Knight Parade in Ybor City on Saturday night.

The building mainly is used by the city Parks and Recreation Department and included pool maintenance equipment, forklifts, chain saws and other tools. Welding equipment and propane gas cylinders are thought 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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