The Florida State Fire Marshal has taken over the investigation of an early-morning blaze that gutted a two-unit duplex at the Dock on the Bay condominium on Longboat Key, the second major structure fire on the island in 2026.
A bystander spotted flames at 3:10 a.m. July 15 and called 911. Longboat Key Fire Rescue units arrived three minutes later at 3440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, finding heavy smoke and fire pouring from the rear of the two-story building. Crews called a second alarm.
The Sarasota Fire Department responded alongside Longboat Key Fire Rescue, with Sarasota County fire units assisting. Longboat Key police and Sarasota police were also on scene. Firefighters knocked the blaze down in roughly 30 minutes and fully extinguished it in about an hour, though crews stayed through the morning to douse small flare-ups.
The fire burned through the second-floor roof, and lower levels sustained water damage and flooding, according to Tina Adams, communications manager for the town of Longboat Key. Adams called the damage to units 8 and 9 "extensive." The duplex was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported.
No other buildings in the multi-structure complex were damaged.
Adams told WWSB/ABC7 on July 15 that the state fire marshal takeover follows standard protocol. Under Florida law, the State Fire Marshal investigates blazes where the cause is not readily determined or where there is probable cause to believe the fire resulted from carelessness or design.
As of Wednesday, investigators had not determined the cause, and no timeline for a conclusion had been announced.
Recovery set back again
The fire hit a community still rebuilding from the 2024 hurricanes. Site manager Frank Biondello told Longboat Key News that the 46-year-old, 19-unit complex had just finished restoring its 23-slip marina. A planned amenities project featuring a pool, hot tub, tennis courts and pickleball courts was about to break ground. That work is on hold while the community assesses damage, files insurance claims and begins repairs.
Anyone with information about the July 15 fire can contact Longboat Key Fire Rescue or the Florida State Fire Marshal's office.
The Dock on the Bay fire is the second major structure fire on Longboat Key this year. In February, a three-alarm fire destroyed a duplex in the Lands End community on the island's north end after a housekeeper spotted flames in an electrical outlet, according to Longboat Key News.
