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Fire In Armenia Avenue Strip Mall Claims 1 Business

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

A motorcycle dropped off for repair at Discount Scooters on Armenia Avenue caught fire Tuesday afternoon, heavily damaging the front of the store. No injuries were reported.

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TBO.com

Published: February 24, 2009

Updated: 02/24/2009 07:28 pm

A motorcycle parked in front of an Armenia Avenue strip mall caught fire this afternoon, heavily damaging a scooter shop, authorities say.

Ariel Perez, 21, of Tampa, rode his 250cc motorcycle to Discount Scooters, 5908 N. Armenia Avenue about 3:51 p.m. because it had a fuel leak, investigators with the Tampa Fire Marshals Office say.

Brooke Gentile, 44, the owner of the scooter store, was working on the motorcycle when the leaking gas caught fire. As Tampa Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the scene, Gentile and other people sprayed the growing fire with portable extinguishers, authorities say.

They could not contain the flames, which spread to the front of Discount Scooters, causing about $15,000 in damage, according to Tampa Fire Rescue.

Firefighters had the flames under control in about 20 minutes. No one was hurt.

Other businesses in the strip mall, which includes immigration services, a computer repair shop and a pharmacy, were not damaged.

Armenia Avenue was shut down for about 30 minutes while crews extinguished the blaze. The road reopened about 5 p.m.

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