Hillsborough County, Florida- A furniture store north of Tampa on Dale Mabry Highway is heavily damaged following a late night three alarm fire Wednesday evening. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley says the fire started just before 11:15 inside the Exotic Furniture Store at 7214 Dale Mabry Highway. When crews arrived they immediately called for extra manpower and shut down the highway in both directions.

Yeakley told reporters around 20 units were eventually dispatched to the scene including trucks from Tampa Fire Rescue. In all, around 50 firefighters assisted, as flames eventually shot from the second floor roof.

Dale Mabry remained closed for about 6 hours in both directions between Sligh Avenue and Kirby Street including the stretch in front of University Community Hospital.  But authorities have now ropened it.

 Several customers shopping at a nearby CVS Pharmacy were unable to drive out of the parking lot because fire hoses blocked the roadway.

The State Fire Marshal is investigating what started the fire. There is no financial estimate on how much the damage will cost, but from the road it appeared much of the store was destroyed.
Beau Zimmer, Tampa Bay’s 10 News