DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — A fire overnight that destroyed 80 percent of the center of a flea market on Pecan Park Road is under investigation.
It took hours for more than 100 firefighters to control the fire in Row B of the Pecan Park Road Flea and Farmer's Market Monday night.
Roger Hopper said he lives in the area and saw the fire when walking his dog and called 9-1-1.
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Dewayne Tucker runs two businesses in the heart of where the fire burned, and he fears he'll have to start from scratch.
“Basically that's what you have to do, is just pick up and move the ashes out of the way and start from the floor up and just keep right on going,” Tucker said.
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- Viewer video: Fire at Pecan Park flea market
Management said vendors are not required to have insurance, and many do not.
“It's horrible. It'll drive you crazy. Make you sick to your stomach. You've got a lot of money tied up, a lot of time, history, your business, your livelihood, the way you feed your family,” said vendor Danny Farmer.
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- Gallery: Massive fire at Pecan Park Flea and Farmers' Market
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Vendors will not be allowed back on the property Tuesday morning. But, the Flea Market is expected to open in some respect on Saturday.
Action News viewed the agreement between management and the vendors. It does not mention damage or losses from fire.
The State Fire Marshal and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms are out at the scene Tuesday morning with K-9s sifting through the rubble and working to figure out cause. It is not known if the fire is suspicious or not.
Two engines and a tanker with the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department remain at the scene to monitor hot sports and assist the state fire marshal in the investigation.
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