A fire tore through the popular Fort Lauderdale nightclub Backyard early Monday morning, leaving the venue a total loss after flames jumped to a neighboring bar and forced crews to call in reinforcements. About 80 firefighters were ultimately called to the scene, and one firefighter was hurt in the effort to knock the blaze down.
The fire broke out at the club, located west of 3rd Avenue and just south of West Broward Boulevard, according to CBS News Miami. The outlet reported that the flames spread from Backyard to a bar next door, prompting fire officials to escalate their response before crews got it under control in about 30 minutes. The firefighter who was injured was treated at the scene, with officials describing the injuries as minor.
Investigation Into Cause Still Underway
CBS News correspondent Morgan Rynor reported on the fire for the station, with fire crews rushing to extinguish the blaze that tore through the club in the early morning hours. Despite the speed with which firefighters brought the flames under control, Backyard did not survive the fire, and officials have said an investigation is now underway to determine what sparked it.
No word yet on what ignited the fire or how extensively the neighboring bar was damaged beyond being reached by the flames, and those details remain part of the ongoing inquiry.
Fort Lauderdale's History of Bar and Club Fires
Monday's fire is not the first time a beloved Fort Lauderdale nightlife spot has gone up in flames. In October 2012, a pre-dawn fire caused heavy damage to Freddie's Anchor Sport Grill, according to the Sun Sentinel. That fire was reported around 6 a.m. on a Thursday while the business was closed, and firefighters needed about 35 minutes to control it.
An even larger fire struck the city decades earlier. In October 1992, a three-alarm blaze destroyed the Pierce Street Annex Saloon and Grille in a morning fire, the Sun Sentinel reported at the time. About 40 firefighters spent two hours battling those flames, which caused an initial damage estimate of $1.3 million, and investigators said the fire might have been suspicious after detecting traces of hydrocarbons at the scene.
For now, the cause of Monday's fire at Backyard remains unknown as officials continue their investigation.
