EUSTIS, Fla. – One person was injured Thursday morning when a fire broke out and an explosion happened at a Eustis jewelry store, according to fire officials.
The explosion happened before 11 a.m. at Darklyn Inc, described on its social media page as offering “one of a kind jewelry.”
Eustis Fire Chief Michael Swanson said the building was occupied by a “longtime business owner,” who does jewelry, rocks and gemstones. He described the building as a “total loss.”
“We really don’t know what actually caused this incident, other than we did have an active gas leak in front of the building. It was not inside the building,” he said during a news conference.
Swanson said the gas leak was discovered during utility work and that buildings immediately around the gas leak were evacuated. He said the gas company had crimped the gas line once the leak was discovered.
However, Swanson said the business where the explosion happened did not have gas service to it.
“What we do know is that everything in the building is electric and that we’re not finding any gas shutoffs remains on the building. So the fact that the building may have had the incident occurred due to the gas leak would be a challenge for us to find out how that occurred,” Swanson said.
He said the business and a home behind it were notified to leave.
“We had plenty of manpower and it did get a little hectic at first because obviously we only had minimal units on site for a standard gas leak, which then turned into a structure fire with injury. So it escalated very fast,” Swanson said.
When asked about the injuries of the person taken to the hospital, Swanson said “it was pretty bad.”
“I would venture to say critical. The patient was flown out. They’re hurt. Keep them in your thought and prayers,” he said.
The blast’s impact rattled neighboring businesses.
“The two ladies in the office right here said the explosion was so loud it about knocked them out of their chairs at their desk!” said Billy Gore, who lives adjacent to the jewelry store.
Gore expressed concern for the injured woman.
“There was just one person there and whether or not she pulls through or not, we probably won’t know yet, but just lucky there was only one person in the building,” he said.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the building erupted, showing a massive fireball shooting skyward as the blast shattered windows throughout the structure, which officials later declared a total loss.
The initial fire prompted the closure of a couple roadways. Swanson said evacuated businesses were later able to return.
The state fire marshal is investigating.
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