Car crashes into West Melbourne fireworks store causing blaze

WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — Crews in West Melbourne are on scene of a fire that started inside a Phantom Fireworks store.

A car crashed into the building shortly before the fire erupted, according to West Melbourne fire officials.

The driver is said to have died, according to West Melbourne Police.

One other car was hit near the intersection of the store, according to Florida Highway Patrol and police say two people were able to escape the store.

None of them were said to be harmed according to officials.

Video obtained by Spectrum News 13 shows the moments after the car struck the building, as fireworks begin to set off inside.

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire within an hour of it igniting.

“When officers arrived you could hear the fireworks going off,” said Lt. Graig Erenstoft of the West Melbourne Police Department. “The building was fully engulfed, and you could see the vehicle in there but it was too much to go inside and check.”

The fire caused delays near the store’s location at W New Have Ave and State Road 192 as well as backups on I-95.

Shajayla Whitaker captured images from her phone after hearing explosions while at a nearby gas station.

“Fireworks everywhere, smoke everywhere, flames, it was like boom, explosions – it was a lot going on,” said Whitaker. “The fireworks were actually shooting off in our direction, and the fireworks were hitting the road, the firetrucks, the police officers.”

Fire crews will likely stay on scene through the night to make sure the fire doesn’t spark back up.

Fire investigators and police will be looking into what may have caused the driver of the SUV to crash into the store.

This story is developing and will be updated.