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Fire damages Cocoa Beach's 'Tiny Turtle' restaurant
A fire heavily damaged a popular Cocoa Beach restaurant Friday evening, but no injuries were reported, authorities said. The fire broke out at The Tiny Turtle, a well-known restaurant in the area.
COCOA BEACH, Fla. - A fire heavily damaged a popular Cocoa Beach restaurant Friday evening, but no injuries were reported, authorities said.
The fire broke out at The Tiny Turtle, a well-known dining spot in the area of Minutemen Causeway between South Orlando and South Brevard avenues.
What we know:
All occupants, including the owner and another tenant who lived on the property, were able to evacuate safely.
The restaurant owner, who also resides onsite, said she was shaken by the incident. The building sustained significant damage, with the roof bearing the brunt of the fire.
A major structural fire broke out at The Tiny Turtle restaurant in downtown Cocoa Beach on Friday afternoon, drawing a large emergency response from local fire and police units.(Source: Ashly Ulep)
Thick, black smoke can be seen rising above the heart of downtown Cocoa Beach. Fire units were on the scene around 4:30 p.m. on May 29 to battle active, heavy flames tearing through the restaurant.
Video obtained by FOX 35 shows multiple bystanders outside the building as fire crews work to put out the fire.
Cause under investigation
What we don't know:
Fire officials said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Crews were in the early stages of determining what sparked the fire, and Florida Power & Light personnel were at the scene because of low-hanging power lines near the building.
Officials said the structure's concrete construction helped limit the extent of the damage and prevented the fire from becoming more destructive.
A major structural fire broke out at The Tiny Turtle restaurant in downtown Cocoa Beach on Friday afternoon, drawing a large emergency response from local fire and police units. (Source: Cocoa Beach City Manager Wes Mullins)
The owner described the restaurant as more than just a business, and community members quickly expressed support for the business on social media following the fire.
What you can do:
Police ask residents to stay clear of the area to allow rescue units a safe environment to work in.
The area will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, police said.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the Cocoa Beach Police Department.