The fire burned for hours Friday, destroying the headquarters to the family-owned chain of Ace Hardware stores in Orange Park.
ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Three cherished store cats from the Hagan Ace Hardware branch in Orange Park have been confirmed safe following a large blaze that destroyed a significant portion of the store Friday night, according to a store representative who spoke with First Coast News on Saturday.
Tara Lageman, a representative for the store’s owning Hagan family, confirmed that King Charlie, Timmy, and Evie were located unharmed soon after the fire occurred.
Lageman said the cats will stay with store employees once firefighters allow them to enter the property.
These cats hold a special place in the Orange Park community, with numerous individuals expressing concern on social media about their safety once news of the fire spread on Friday.
What happened?
The fire at the headquarters of the locally-owned chain of Ace Hardware stores started ten minutes before closing, Friday night, and the building was completely engulfed in flames within minutes, according to Lageman.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital, Laura Christmas, director of communications with Clay County Fire Rescue, said. However, Christmas added that everyone inside was able to get out.
Saturday, First Coast News learned the firefighter suffered a heat-related injury and is expected to be OK.
Christmas said CCFR crews were able to reach the scene within three minutes of the first call. The fire raged for two hours. She said CCFR gave the fire “everything we have.” They were joined by the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department, the Orange Park Fire Department, and personnel from NAS Jax.
Hagan Ace Hardware currently does not know the cause of the fire.
Lageman told First Coast News the store is owned by the Hagan family, who owns 11 Ace Hardware stores locally. The Blanding location is the headquarters, employing 33 people.
She said the family appreciates “the outpouring from the community,” and “we will rebuild. We’re thankful everyone is going to be okay.”
Christmas said many firefighters on scene know the Hagan family, or are even related to them, making the situation very personal.
Crews were able to get the fire under control after midnight. Blanding Boulevard was shut down in both directions Friday night. It reopened at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. Crews remain on scene to monitor any hot spots.
