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Surf Wear Store Fire Being Called Suspicious

Investigators are calling a fire that gutted a Daytona Beach Shores business suspicious. The fire ripped through Hurricane Surf Wear on Atlantic Avenue (see map) Tuesday night. It is the third gift shop fire on A-1-A in the past year.

Investigators Wednesday afternoon finished going through what was left after the fire. The Daytona Beach Shores Fire Department was still on scene early Wednesday afternoon, because there were flare-ups from the fire earlier in the morning.


IMAGES: Massive Flames, Damage

The State Fire Marshal’s office used dogs and heavy equipment to turn over the rubble and look for any signs pointing to how the fire started around 6:30pm Tuesday. However, they found nothing obvious, so they're going to turn to witnesses from the grocery store, laundromat and a bar nearby. They're also going to check any security cameras that were running.

There was someone on scene Tuesday night who said they saw a hole in the front window, maybe where something was thrown in, but there is nothing at this point to back that story up, investigators said.

It was exactly one year ago that a gift shop on A-1-A in Ormond Beach burned and was ruled arson. In September, another gift and clothing store burned down. It was labeled an act of arson.

But investigators say there is nothing to point to any of them being connected.

"It’s too early to tell right now. It does not appear to be. I know this one and the one previously on Labor Day are still under investigation," Amelia Bowling of the State Fire Marshal's Office said.

The owner of the business, Yoram Brittom, had the Hurricane Surf Wear store for 18 years.

“That's your life down the drain. I have to build everything up again. It won't be easy,” Brittom said.

Investigators said he's cooperative and seems to be devastated about the fire. He's even talking about rebuilding or starting over in the same spot.

The early estimate on damage is about $250,000, but with all the inventory inside and considering the store is right across the street from the beach, investigators said the loss could be a lot higher.

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