Arson Suspected in Pop's Food Mart Fire

The former Pop’s Food Mart on North Fort Harrison Avenue is no more.

According to Clearwater Fire & Rescue, a blaze broke out at the 1210 N. Fort Harrison Ave. building just before 10 a.m. Monday. The first units to arrive on the scene found the building already heavily consumed by flames, the agency noted in an email to media.

The building once served as the home to a convenience store, but it was vacant at the time of the fire, officials said. No injuries were reported to civilians or fire rescue personnel. Fort Harrison Avenue was closed to traffic for a time while crews worked to put out the flames, the agency noted.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue announced late Monday afternoon that the fire is now being investigated as an arson. Further details are not yet available, including just how the blaze began. Fire officials have said the building suffered extensive interior damage.

Photos courtesy of Clearwater Fire & Rescue