On the early morning of May 3, 2023, a structure fire broke out at the Coastal Christian Church located at 2686 Bayshore Blvd in Dunedin, just north of Curlew Road/Causeway Blvd. Multiple firefighters responded to the scene at 2:57 am to combat the blaze.
Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered that a dumpster outside the church was on fire and had spread to the roof and eaves of the building. As a result, additional units were requested to respond to the scene to assist with the firefighting efforts.
Despite extinguishing the fire on the roof, an increasing amount of smoke was visible. A third alarm response was called, and additional crews attacked an active fire on the 1st floor of the church, with additional flames visible in the roof area.
At 3:35 a.m., all firefighters exited the church and transitioned to an external defensive attack. Water began to flow from the aerial fire truck onto the roof.
The damage inside the church is unknown, but visible damage was observed on the roof, and extensive water damage was reported.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the authorities, including the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, are working diligently to determine the origin and the circumstances that led to the blaze.
There were no reports of injuries.