Fire damages St. Armands boutique


  • By Dana Kampa
  • | 12:55 p.m. January 23, 2025
  • | Updated 6:20 p.m. January 23, 2025
Fire crews from Sarasota County and Longboat Key work to put out a fire at Rochelle's Boutique on St. Armands Circle Jan. 23.
Fire crews from Sarasota County and Longboat Key work to put out a fire at Rochelle's Boutique on St. Armands Circle Jan. 23.
Photo by Dana Kampa
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6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23

At 1:52 p.m., first responders called a “fire out” at St. Armands Circle, Sarasota County Emergency Services Media Relations Officer Sara Nealeigh said in a press release.

Responders reported no injuries but remained on the scene as of 5 p.m., taping off the affected area but reopening traffic lanes.

Officers have called the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations, and they encourage anyone with relevant information about the fire to contact the bureau.

Sarasota County Fire Department Assistant Chief of Operations Will Schreiner said in a video statement that the initial call came from a businessperson who noticed smoke in the building.

Firefighters respond to flames on the 300 block of St Armands Circle on Jan. 23.
Photo by Dana Kampa

Schreiner said the caller self-evacuated while awaiting the services of Longboat Key Fire Rescue and SCFD.

“We had noted heavy smoke and fire from one of the units,” he said. “We had about 50 firefighters on scene, between 14 units, that initiated a fire attack.”

“There was fire in the attic of a commercial building,” he continued, after confirming the fire was now out. “It’s been held to three units, with no other extension to other units.”

Responders assess the damage after a fire broke out on the 300 block of St Armands Circle on Jan. 23.
Photo by Dana Kampa

Schreiner said the involved units were at 386, 384 and 382 St Armands Circle, some of which were under construction. He said the fire appeared to have started at the back of the units, but further investigation was needed to understand the cause.

A fire damaged a clothing shop on St. Armands Circle Thursday, the Sarasota County Fire Department said.


1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23

Fire crews from Sarasota County and Longboat Key fire departments responded to the fire at Rochelle's Boutique, in the 300 block of the circle, according to Tina Adams, a spokeswoman from the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department.

The two-alarm fire was reported about 11:40 a.m., according to Sarasota County spokeswoman Genevieve Judge.

Dark smoke billows from Rochelle's Boutique on St. Armands Circle Jan. 23. No injuries were reported in the two-alarm fire, a county spokeswoman said.
Photo courtesy of Janine Nunnery

Janine Nunnery, who works in a neighboring shop, said she noticed flames at about 11:45 and told the Observer flames were visible for about 20 minutes before fire crews were able to get the fire under control.

No injuries have been reported, Judge said.

St. Armands Circle is closed while crews remain on scene. Side roadways around the circle remain open, Adams said.

Jim DeLa contributed to this report.

 

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Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.

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