Three alarm fire at Ybor's Amphitheatre

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Crews responded to a fire at the historic Amphitheater in Ybor City Wednesday evening.

It began around 7:45 at the building, located on 7th Avenue and 17th Street.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames coming through the roof of the Historic, two-story building.

Neighboring businesses had to be evacuated as the crews worked to battle the flames.

“I was in my building doing some various things and I’m like- ‘what is all this smoke in my building?’” explained Eric Fleming of the Ybor City Jazz House. “So I run upstairs to check my building and make sure it’s not on fire, and as I go on the roof, I look over and it’s their building that’s on fire.”

He went on to say it wasn’t easy getting out of his building, and described seeing hallways filled with smoke so thick, he almost collapsed.

Fortunately he made it out ok, as did three others who were working inside the Amphitheatre at the time of the fire.

Two firefighters were taken to the hospital for observation, but they have been released from the hospital. 

Firefighters worked over night to put out the flames, but hot spots were still an issue early Thursday morning.

It wasn't until about 6 a.m. when investigators were finally cleared to go inside and begin assessing the damage.

Neighboring businesses on the south side of 7th Ave. between 16th and 17th Streets were closed until power could be restored.

FOX 13 News has a crew on the scene. Refresh this page for updates on this developing story.