Firefighters with the Kissimmee Fire Department respond to a massive commercial fire at Simple Pawn and Jewelry on West Vine Street in Kissimmee. The blaze caused catastrophic damage, including a roof collapse, and remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office. Source: Kissimmee Fire Department.
Massive Commercial Fire Destroys Kissimmee Pawn Shop; Roof Collapses During Firefight
By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published July 31st, 2026
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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A massive commercial fire destroyed a pawn shop along West Vine Street early Friday morning, forcing firefighters to transition from an aggressive interior attack to a defensive operation after the building's roof collapsed.
The fire broke out at Simple Pawn and Jewelry, located at 4006 W. Vine Street, shortly before 6 a.m.
According to Kissimmee Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Joe Leone, firefighters were initially dispatched after an activated fire alarm. While crews were responding, the call was upgraded to a commercial structure fire.
The first arriving firefighters immediately entered the building and launched an aggressive interior attack but were met with intense fire conditions.
"As you can see, this was a very stubborn, hot fire for our guys," Leone said during a media briefing.
As conditions rapidly deteriorated inside the building, the incident commander ordered crews to evacuate and transition to a defensive firefighting operation. About 15 minutes after firefighters were pulled from the structure, the building's roof collapsed.
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| collage of aerial and ground-level photographs captures firefighters battling a massive commercial fire at Simple Pawn and Jewelry on West Vine Street in Kissimmee. The blaze caused catastrophic damage, leaving the building with a collapsed roof and extensive destruction as fire crews worked for hours to extinguish the stubborn fire. Source: iSkyNews.com Drone Response Team. |
"The roof collapsed in, and from there on out, it was a defensive fire," Leone said.
Firefighters spent hours battling flames burning beneath the collapsed roof. Leone explained that once a roof collapses, it can trap fire underneath the debris, making it much more difficult to extinguish.
"What we have to do is sometimes allow it to burn through the roof in order to hit the seat of the fire," he said.
An excavator was brought to the scene in case crews needed to pull down unstable walls to safely reach remaining hot spots.
The Florida State Fire Marshal's Office arrived at the scene around 9 a.m. and is investigating the cause of the fire.
Because firefighters were unable to safely access much of the building, officials could not confirm whether hazardous materials or ammunition inside the pawn shop played any role in the incident.
Some firefighters reported hearing small popping sounds while battling the blaze.
"I can't confirm it was ammunition or not," Leone said. "My crews did not report any explosions, just small pops."
The building appears to be a total loss.
"From what you can see, the building looks like a total loss to me," Leone said. "But we have not been inside yet to see. We will not go inside because it is unsafe."
The fire also caused major traffic disruptions during the morning commute.
West Vine Street remained closed for approximately four to five hours, creating significant delays along one of Kissimmee's busiest roadways while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA)disconnected power to the building during the incident.
Leone thanked the media for helping notify motorists about the road closures.
"I personally apologize to everyone out there for your traffic jam this morning," he said.
Approximately 40 firefighters from the Kissimmee Fire Department responded to the incident. While Kissimmee crews remained committed to the fire scene, neighboring fire departments assisted by handling emergency calls throughout the city.
One firefighter suffered a possible heat-related illness during the incident and was evaluated by EMS personnel before being transported to a hospital as a precaution. No other injuries were reported.
While crews continued working the scene, iSkyNews.com spoke with one customer who said she currently has jewelry inside the destroyed pawn shop. She said her first concern was for the safety of the employees and firefighters responding to the blaze.
The customer described the staff at Simple Pawn and Jewelry as "friendly" and "amazing," adding that she was devastated to see the business destroyed by the fire. Although she is concerned about the valuables still inside the building, she said she is grateful no one was seriously hurt.
Fire officials said crews will remain on scene for several hours because there is still a possibility of the fire rekindling.
"There is always that possibility of rekindle," Leone said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office.
Source: Kissimmee Fire Department media briefing with Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Joe Leone.
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