KISSIMMEE, Fla.,None — The state fire marshal is working to determine what caused a huge fire at an Osceola County business.
Royal Battery on North Orange Blossom Trail in Kissimmee went up in flames around 7 p.m. Tuesday and several residents had to be evacuated from their homes.
The business owner said he still plans to open up Wednesday morning in the part of the building that's still standing.
Witnesses watched as the bright orange flames started shooting through the roof in the middle of the store.
"We are walking out, getting ready to leave the building and next thing you know we just see a bunch of smoke," said eyewitness Luis Luzuriaga.
Jorge Barazero lives behind the business, so he and his neighbors were forced to leave.
"I heard an explosion, 'Boom!' And when I came out, I saw smoke and flames and people running," he said.
Fire departments from Kissimmee, Osceola, and Orange County rushed to help.
"We made an initial attack on the interior but the fire was so great we backed out immediately," said Kissimmee Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeremy Donovan.
"When they would think that it was out it would just start flaring up again, and then they cut a hole in the wall to get the flames out that way," said Barazero.
"I felt bad for the guy and his business. Its takes a lot to start a business and it's gone that quick with the flames and the fire," said Luzuriaga.
Twenty minutes later, the fire was out and the Orange County hazmat team moved in to check for run off from the burnt electrical equipment inside.
Luckily no one was hurt, but the owner lost nearly $250,000 worth of batteries, chargers, and other accessories.
WFTV found out Royal Battery was founded in 1921. It's been in the battery business for more than 90 years.
The company owns and operates three distribution centers: One in Kissimmee and two more in Holly Hill and Palm Bay.
WFTV
