Yesterday morning turned tense along Combee Road in Lakeland as heavy flames ripped through the roof of a commercial building, triggering a two-alarm response and a swift surge of Polk County Fire Rescue units. Firefighters arriving within minutes were met with intense flames punching through the top of the structure as crews scrambled to box in the blaze. Officials later confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Polk County Fire Rescue told Tampa Bay 28 that crews were dispatched at 10:32 a.m. and pulled up on scene three minutes later to find fire venting through the roof and heavy flames burning in multiple bays of the business. Firefighters had water on the blaze by 10:38 a.m., and the department said the fire was brought under control at 11:19 a.m., after which crews shifted into overhaul work to hunt down and extinguish remaining hot spots. A search of the interior confirmed there was nobody inside, according to the department.
Combee Road's fire history
This stretch of Combee Road has seen serious incidents before, including a fatal recreational-vehicle fire in May 2025 that killed one person, as reported by WESH. Local coverage has shown Polk County Fire Rescue repeatedly at the center of large structure and vehicle fire responses along the corridor, underscoring the ongoing challenge of protecting its industrial and mixed-use properties.
What's next
Crews stayed on scene after the flames were knocked down to continue overhaul operations and secure the commercial building, and officials said the scene was under control by late morning, according to Tampa Bay 28. Polk County Fire Rescue confirmed no injuries and advised anyone with information to contact the department or the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
