Explosion, fire shuts down florida walmart on black friday

BROOKSVILLE, FL – Just after 5 a.m. on Friday, a Hernando County Sheriff’s deputy who was already stationed in the parking lot of the Walmart located at 13300 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, heard an explosion at the western end of the store.

The deputy requested the fire department and back-up units be dispatched to his location as he responded toward the fire.

Upon arrival at the rear, western end of the store, the deputy observed three tractor-trailers. The tractor-trailer in the middle was on fire. The deputy quickly checked the vehicles for occupants and was able to locate and safely remove the only occupant from one of the other two vehicles.

As other deputies arrived on scene, they responded to the store to assist with evacuating the store, as the three tractor-trailers were parked very close to the building.

As fire crews arrived, the fire had spread to the other two tractor-trailers. Fire crews are still battling the fire.

The store remains closed at this time. All entry points to the store are closed until further notice.

Once the fire is under control, it will be determined if there is any damage to the store/building and if the store may reopen today. An update will be provided when the information is available.

Fortunately, there were no injuries as a result of the explosion/fire. The cause of the explosion is under investigation

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.