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WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – At about 3:45 p.m. Monday afternoon, personnel from West Manatee Fire Rescue and Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue responded to a boat fire at the Cortez Cove Marina, 4522 121st St. W. in Cortez.

WMFR Fire Chief Ben Rigney said the fire occurred on a 72-foot Princess yacht that was out of the water and up on jacks when the fire occurred.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
A 72-foot Princess yacht that was out of the water and up on jacks caught fire Monday afternoon. – Ben Rigney/WMFR – Submitted
“It’s contained to the one boat and it is not out yet. We have a ladder truck in the air. There’s a lot of fiberglass and fuel so it will probably take a while to put out,” Rigney said.

When contacted again at 5:03 p.m. Rigney said the fire was contained but not completely extinguished.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
A ladder truck was used to disperse water on the burning boat. – Ben Rigney/WMFR | Submitted

“We have it knocked it down pretty good, but it’s fiberglass so it will burn for a while. It’s on jacks so we have to let it fill up and then let the water drain out and then do it again because we don’t want to put too much stress on the jacks and have the boat fall over. It’ll be a long, slow process, but you shouldn’t be able to see the smoke anymore,” Rigney said.

Rigney said the fire was contained to that yacht only and there were no injuries and no damage to the marina buildings.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
This ladder truck and crew responded to the fire scene. – Ben Rigney/WMFR – Submitted

Rigney said Sea Tow diked the area to prevent water runoff and the Coast Guard was notified as well.

“We had a quick knockdown and did a good of containing this to the one boat. Now it’s just a slow process making sure it’s out,” Rigney said.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
The fire was contained to a single boat and no injuries or structural damage to the marina occurred. – Shane Pelkey | Submitted
Surf Shop reopens

Surf Shop reopens

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Business, Retail.

HOLMES BEACH – West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Drive, just south of Manatee Beach, is back in business following a fire on April 15 of last year.

Owners Jim and Ronee Brady had a soft opening Monday morning and plan on a celebration after season when it isn’t so busy, according to Jim Brady.

Meanwhile, it looks and smells new and the store’s footprint hasn’t changed. They still feature items relevant to having fun on the beach and in the water.

“We have most of the lines we carried before plus we added some new ones,” Jim Brady said.

After the fire that damaged the building, but did not destroy it, the Brady family came together, salvaged merchandise and held sales in front of the building to keep income flowing.

Their friends organized a fundraiser for them last July like the many fundraisers that have been held on Anna Maria Island when people are down on their luck, ones that the Bradys contributed to over the years.

Their insurance company covered most of the loss and about two weeks before opening, the Bradys got permission to move in and start stocking shelves.

Surfers and friends are welcome to check out the new store, still the oldest surf shop on Florida’s west coast.

Fire damages Shore restaurant

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Longboat Key.

LONGBOAT KEY – The Shore restaurant under construction at 800 Broadway sustained damage in a fire the night of Wednesday, Oct. 24. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains unknown.

The interior of the building appears badly damaged, but the exterior appears intact with charring to some surfaces, and some hurricane windows melted or blown out.

The building is on the site of the former Moore’s Stone Crab restaurant, which closed three years ago.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue was on scene this morning, joined by the State Fire Marshal, who is now investigating the fire.

“At 2202 hours (10:02 p.m.) on Wednesday, Oct. 24, Longboat Key, West Manatee, and Sarasota County Fire Departments responded with 20 firefighters to 800 Broadway for a reported commercial structure fire. Upon arrival of the first units, they encountered heavy fire showing from the entrance of a large structure, under construction,” according to a Longboat Key Fire Rescue press release.

“The initial crews stretched two hose lines, quickly extinguishing the body of fire at the entrance and extended rooms. The fire was under control within 30 minutes. There were no reports of any injuries,” the press release said.

“The State Fire Marshal was called to the scene and secured the site overnight. The investigation continued this morning where the State Fire Marshal had their arson dog called to the scene, as normal operating procedure, to assist with locating any accelerants. Samples have been taken and will be sent to the state lab for analysis. The results may take up to four weeks to receive.

“This does not indicate the fire was arson, rather it provides further evidence to assist with a complete investigation. The scene is continuing to be investigated and once complete will be turned back over to the owners,” according to the press release.

At 8:30 a.m. this morning, co-owner Tom Leonard was standing outside the building, talking on his cell phone and still waiting to be let inside to examine the damage.

When asked, he said the construction project was approximately six to eight weeks from completion when the fire occurred. He estimated the fire would add an additional two months to complete the project. He said this timetable would depend in part on how long it takes for the insurance company to settle the claim.

At 4 p.m. this afternoon, Longboat Key Fire Rescue spokesperson Tina Adams said she believed the construction site had been turned back over to the owners.

When construction is completed, the 185-seat, coastal-style eatery will join its sister establishment, Shore, on St. Armands Key.

- Joe Hendricks | Sun

- Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Shore on Longboat Key burned last night. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Shore on Longboat Key burned last night. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

- Joe Hendricks | Sun

- Joe Hendricks | Sun

- Brian Hollinger | Submitted

- Brian Hollinger | Submitted

Holmes Beach surf shop fire award Mayor

West Coast Surf Shop employees honored for bravery

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – A fire at the West Coast Surf Shop on April 15 turned staff members Kaitlin Kee, Anna Rehorn and Benjamin Webb from store clerks into heroes when they not only got themselves out of the burning building but also evacuated an estimated 30 patrons.

During the May 22 city commission meeting, Holmes Beach city leaders, along with police Chief Bill Tokajer and members of the West Manatee Fire Rescue district recognized the three for their bravery and quick thinking during the emergency situation.

“Because of their efforts they saved lives,” Tokajer said.

Holmes Beach Surf Shop fire award West Manatee Fire Rescue
West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Tom Sousa congratulates the staff of West Coast Surf Shop on their bravery in evacuating the store during a fire emergency. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Fire Marshall Jim Davis, reading from Kee’s statement to officials on the day of the fire, said the smoke, believed to be caused by a faulty transformer on a neon light in a window, was first reported to staff by a customer. Upon investigation, the staff of three called 911 and evacuated the building as flames began and smoke started filling the shop. The staff and patrons were not injured. The upstairs apartment was not inhabited at the time of the fire.

“If not for them, it would’ve definitely been a different story,” Davis said.

Once on the scene, it took firefighters about two minutes to fully extinguish the fire. Damage was sustained to the shop’s exterior, the store and the shop’s inventory, which had just been restocked. Damage was estimated at $250,000.

The West Coast Surf Shop is the oldest surf shop on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Owners Jim and Ronee Brady are currently in the process of making repairs to the shop with the hope of reopening in about six months.

Related Coverage

Keep calm and surf on

Repairs underway at West Coast Surf Shop

Fire hits West Coast Surf Shop

Fire hits West Coast Surf Shop

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in First Place, Special Sections.

Updated April 16, 2018

HOLMES BEACH – A fire caused an estimated quarter million dollars in damage to the iconic West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Drive, the afternoon of Sunday, April 15, but everyone got out safely with no injuries, according to fire officials.Florida Press Association logo - front

Three members of the sales staff on duty evacuated about 30 people from the store, West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshall Jim Davis said.

“The employees did a good job of getting everyone out safely,” WMFR Battalion Chief Ben Rigney said.

First Place

Online Breaking News Coverage

2019

While early observers suggested that lightning was the cause, since the fire occurred during a thunderstorm, an investigation later in the day showed that the fire was electrical and involved a neon light near a window at the front of the shop, he said.

Jim and Ronee Brady, who have owned the store for nearly 55 years, were on Florida’s east coast with their grandson, Giorgio Gomez, who was competing in a surf competition when they got the news.

“It was a shock,” Jim Brady said.

The rental apartment above the shop was vacant, Ronee Brady said, but the timing was especially bad – the store just got in its spring inventory and was fully stocked.

Contents and structural damage is estimated at $250,000, Davis said, adding, “Everything they had in there is gone between the heat and smoke damage.”

Holmes Beach Police Department officers responded quickly to the fire, but by the time they opened the door, the flames were already up to the ceiling, Davis said.

The call came in to WMFR at 2:43 p.m. Four engine companies responded – three from West Manatee Fire Rescue and one from Longboat Key.

“Engine #131 from the Holmes Beach station made a fantastic knock down of the fire because that whole place was ready to go,” he said.

After the smoke cleared, Jim Brady said they’re ready to rebuild the iconic surf shop. He said most of the damage is to the store’s inventory, which will have to be replaced. Contractors were on site Monday morning to assess the structural damage and begin the process of rebuilding.

“Time is the issue now,” he said. The Bradys hope to have the surf shop reopened within 60 to 90 days.

Island icon

The surf shop, next to Manatee beach, is an Island institution, rivaling Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach as the oldest surf shop in Florida.

Ron Jon’s opened in 1963. Brady started his shop in 1964, he thinks – he was only 16 – near the former Pete Reynard’s restaurant and the current Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach.

While he was in class at Manatee High School, his grandmother, Aida Brady, and his aunt, Carol Stevens, filled in for him. When the surf was up, he’d hang a sign on the door saying, “Gone surfing.”

He moved the shop to the present location in 1979, where the Brady’s grandchildren, Giorgio Gomez and Izzi Gomez – champion surfers and paddleboarders – learned their craft.

Facebook friends

Outpourings of sympathy and good wishes appeared immediately on The Sun’s Facebook page as details became available Sunday afternoon.

  • “So sad… the community will come together and help them rebuild and recoup I’m sure. I’m just glad no one was hurt.” – Tiffany An Parker
  • “Oh no… such an island treasure” – Janet Bethart Maze
  • “Dreams and prayers up in smoke, such a shock for the owners… One never knows what may happen, but they will have the tight community support from this wonderful island. They will rise up.” – Priscilla Rattray
  • “This is the best family and the best place. I am sooo sad to hear this. Prayers to the Bradys and their amazing crew.” Heidi Erickson-Kubes
  • “Praying for Mr. and Mrs. Brady – hopefully everyone is ok.” – Marion Young-Welles
  • “Nice shop and really nice people. Hope everyone is ok!” – Cathy Robbins
  • “Praying for the whole family and their business, that is so awful!” – LinVal Grant Price

And on the Surf Shop’s Facebook page, the Bradys wrote: “We just want to say thank you for the overwhelming response of thoughts and prayers! We are so blessed that everyone is ok! Thanks to our heroes, Kaitlin, Anna, & Benny for making sure our customers got out safe and sound! Not to mention the police and firefighters for their valiant efforts to save our livelihood! You don’t know how much it meant to come home to a parking lot full of amazing friends, family, customers, and kind strangers waiting with open arms. It made such a traumatic experience so much more bearable.”

– Joe Hendricks and Kristin Swain contributed to this report