'It could have been way worse': Firefly in PCB to reopen Tuesday after Friday's fire

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A catastrophe was averted this weekend at arguably the most prestigious restaurant on the Beach. 

Following a fire Friday night that forced Firefly employees and customers to evacuate "right in the middle of the dinner rush," owner Dave Trepanier said he is thankful the blaze did not spiral out of control, especially with Memorial Day weekend just two weeks away. 

"I don't want to say this was the worst time it could have happened, but it was damn sure pretty close," Trepanier said. "It could have been way worse."

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About 8 p.m. Friday, while the restaurant was "packed," Trepanier said he learned smoke was billowing from a sign located outside the Shoppes at Edgewater restaurant. 

The smoke then crept inside the venue, prompting him to evacuate patrons and call 911. 

Once firefighters arrived, they had to cut into the restaurant's ceiling to get to the fire, which was confined within a wall connected to the exterior sign. Trepanier said the firefighters' handiwork revealed an area about 8 by 10 feet that was engulfed in flames. 

"It was kind of contained ... in the wall behind the sign," he said. "It wasn't (just) a smoking fuse, it was fire."

Trepanier, who said he believes the fire was started by an electrical issue, added Monday morning that he plans to reopen the restaurant Tuesday evening. 

He said he and staff have been working "around the clock" to clean and repair the establishment so it can reopen.

"We had to repair the holes in the ceiling, (and) we did that over the weekend," Trepanier said. "The biggest thing is just all the smoke damage (and) getting that smoke smell out of there. We've had a fire-mitigation crew in there nonstop."

While the restaurant sustained smoke and fire damage, Trepanier said he is confident it will bounce back in time to meet the demand of the peak tourist season.

He described the restaurant's busiest months as March to October. 

"The ability to get my staff back to work was the single most important thing about the whole ordeal," Trepanier said. "Those are the (people) I can't live without, and they can't live without working. Thankfully, (we'll only be closed) for a couple days and be back up and going before Memorial Day.

"... Take the revenue out of it, (and) anybody on this Beach will tell you that the most important aspect of their business is their employees."