Orlando, FL – Fire at CVS warehouse contained with help from sprinkler system

A fire at the CVS Pharmacy warehouse in south Orange County caused evacuation of the building. But the company said the incident won’t have much impact on supplying the many drug stores in the region.

Orange County Fire Rescue responded to the large warehouse at 8201 Chancellor Drive, around 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Arriving units found smoke and a small fire in the building, in the industrial park about a mile west of the Florida Mall. It was difficult for firefighters to access the fire, and it required sawing a hole in the roof to reach the fire and extinguish it. The warehouse’s sprinkler system was activated by the fire. CVS said that likely contained the fire to that area. Fire units remained on scene into Sunday night to remove smoke from the building and check the 720,000 square foot facility to ensure that the fire is completely extinguished, and that there are no other hazards.

CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis sent a statement to WESH 2 News, advising that the fire started in the rear corner of the building in a break room area. The warehouse will be closed Monday to examine the building’s inventory to see if any of it was damaged. He noted that all of Monday’s shipments to stores had already been loaded in the fleet of trucks, and were not affected by the fire. CVS plans to use its distribution centers in Vero Beach and Knoxville, and the company’s pharmaceutical suppliers to replenish stores in our area if needed.

No one was injured in the incident.