Art studio destroyed in blaze

A building in the Whitfield Industrial Park Center received about $100,000 in damage to the structure and its contents during a fire Monday morning.

The building, located at 2017 Whitfield Park Drive, was being used as an art studio by Southern Atelier Inc.

A bystander called 911 after seeing smoke coming from the building. Southern Manatee Fire Rescue arrived on scene within minutes and four fire engines and 14 firefighters and a battalion chief worked to minimize the spread of the flames.

The business was not open at the time of the fire and no one was inside when firefighters searched the building, a release from Southern Manatee Fire Rescue states.

The incident is still under investigation by the deputy fire marshal.