CLEARWATER, Fla. — Firefighters were battling a three-alarm blaze at a Clearwater treatment center on Sunday morning.
Clearwater Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a fire at Fairwinds Treatment Center, 1569 S. Fort Harrison Ave., shortly after 5 a.m.
17 residents and five staff members were able to self-evacuate after the fire started.
No injuries were reported to those inside the center or to firefighters. More than 20 units from Clearwater and surrounding agencies, including Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Largo, and Seminole, responded to help fight the three-alarm fire.
WATCH: Drone video of three-alarm blaze at Clearwater treatment center, shot by John Yanchoris
Fire inspectors from Clearwater Fire and Rescue were on the scene to determine the cause of the blaze. The state fire marshal's office will also be involved due to the amount of damage to the structure. At around 5 p.m. on Sunday, officials ruled the preliminary cause to be accidental, with an electrical issue in an industrial freezer likely being the reason.
Damages to the building are estimated to exceed $1 million.
South Fort Harrison Avenue was closed between Belleair Road and Woodlawn Avenue.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
