- May 18, 2026
Ormond Beach firefighters responded to an electrical fire in the basement of the blighted Makai Beach Lodge on the beachside on May 8, and police report it was likely caused by someone trying to steal copper wire.
According to a police report, witnesses came forward after the fire was extinguished to report the sighting of a suspect fleeing from the lodge, located at 707 S. Atlantic Ave., shortly after the fire started. The man left the scene in a black sedan.
Florida Power & Light personnel responded to the lodge and informed police that the fire started in the utility/mechanical room in the basement. They advised that it was likely caused by an individual attempting to steal copper wire from an energized main feed line, the report states.
The firefighters' union, the Ormond Beach Professional Firefighters, reported the following on Facebook:
"Upon arrival, crews encountered challenges extinguishing the fire due to active electrical hazards that required additional precautions before suppression efforts could safely continue," the post stated. "Working carefully and efficiently, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control and fully extinguish it. Thankfully, no injuries were reported."
