UPDATED: Fire ignites local business, chemicals

An early evening fire at a local business had residents confined to their homes for more than an hour.

Around 6:10 p.m., firefighters from Holley-Navarre, Midway, Navarre Beach and Florosa Fire Districts responded to Aqua Water Treatment Incorporated, 8195 East Bay Boulevard, for a report of a structure fire.

Due to the nature of the business – treating water with chemicals for purification purposes – the Santa Rosa County Emergency Management Office immediately issued a “shelter-in-place” order within a half-mile radius of the scene. Residents were urged to stay in their homes for their safety in case chemicals were burned and filtered into the air or surrounding water.

Both west and east bound lanes of East Bay Boulevard were blocked off, detouring traffic around the building until the fire was extinguished.

The building was made of metal, which firefighters said helped contain the fire, not allowing it to spread to nearby structures or debris. The fire damaged the building and it’s believed to be a total loss.

Chris Phelps, a specialist with the Midway HazMat team, tested the area, both air and runoff water from the fire hoses, for chemicals, but found none.  SRCEMO lifted the “shelter-in-place” at 8:25 p.m.

A technical worker at the business had spotted flames and tried to put them out himself. He was later transported to Gulf Breeze Hospital for injuries he sustained while combating the fire. At 9:15 p.m., he was listed in serious condition, suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. He was transported to Shands Healthcare in Gainesville for further treatment.

The county’s reverse 9-1-1 system, which can call landlines contained in a specified incident area, with safety messages was not in operation, due to a failed computer mother board that unexpectedly went down last week. A replacement mother board is on order. The county is extremely appreciative of the efforts of the local media in notifying residents of the precautionary measure.