Smoke causes evacuation at Panera Bread

The Sarasota County Fire Department and Sarasota Police Department responded to a structure fire reported at Panera Bread on South Tamiami Trail at 7:19 a.m. Wednesday.

Three fire trucks, one ambulance and two SPD units flanked the restaurant after employees were evacuated due to "strange-smelling" smoke.

Emergency personnel on site did not report any flames, but blamed the incident on three malfunction air-conditioning units on the property's roof. Florida Power & Light Co. arrived after 8 a.m. to cut the power.

There were no injuries reported and Panera Bread is currently closed.