Illustrative image. This is not a photograph of the fire at Backyard.
A fast-moving fire destroyed Backyard, an open-air entertainment venue in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Himmarshee district, early Monday, Nov. 9. Officials said the nightclub was a total loss, according to CBS Miami’s report, published at about 6:32 a.m. by reporters Morgan Rynor and Steven Yablonski.
CBS Miami placed the fire west of Third Avenue and just south of West Broward Boulevard. The blaze spread to a neighboring bar, the station reported. The report did not name that bar or describe the extent of its damage.
Second alarm brought about 80 firefighters
Officials told CBS Miami that the fire was quickly elevated to a second alarm, bringing about 80 firefighters to the scene. Crews brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, officials said. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Patrons inside described a rushed evacuation as the fire spread. One person told CBS Miami: “It was like a stampede almost. Everybody was running out. Everyone was tripping over everybody. But the workers themselves handled everything very calmly.”
The patron’s account describes a chaotic exit, while crediting venue workers for remaining calm. CBS Miami did not report further details about how many people were inside or whether any other injuries occurred.
Cause remains under investigation
Officials had not released a specific cause for the fire by the time of CBS Miami’s report. The cause is under investigation, and the station said no other information had been released.
The early report did not identify what may have ignited the fire or provide a timeline for the investigation. It also did not say when officials might release additional findings.
What is known about the venue
Backyard is listed at 100 SW Third Avenue in the Himmarshee district. The venue is an open-air, backyard-style space known for concerts and events. Revolution Live’s website describes its location as “Revolution Live at the Backyard.”
That venue listing establishes the connection between Revolution Live and the Backyard address. However, CBS Miami’s report did not identify Revolution Live as the neighboring bar affected by the fire, nor did it say that Revolution Live itself was damaged or destroyed. The reported total loss applies to Backyard.
The condition and operating status of the neighboring bar were not specified in the report. It remains unclear whether that business will reopen or what repairs it may need.
Background: Himmarshee under scrutiny
The fire comes as Fort Lauderdale’s Himmarshee nightlife area faces increased regulatory scrutiny. On Oct. 13, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department announced an underage-drinking crackdown in the district, according to WSVN.
On Oct. 21, the City Commission voted to eliminate Himmarshee’s entertainment-district status, NBC 6 reported. The city has also been considering tougher late-night rules, including ending 4 a.m. bar hours, according to Axios Fort Lauderdale.
The fire’s cause has not been released, and no connection between the blaze and the city’s regulatory actions has been established. The events are separate matters; the investigation into the fire remains ongoing.
The Digest previously reported that a second reading and final vote on a meeting-times ordinance for Himmarshee is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.
What to watch next
The fire investigation is the key unanswered question: officials have not announced a cause or provided a timeline for further updates. The condition and reopening prospects of the neighboring bar also remain unknown based on the information released Monday morning.
The Nov. 17 City Commission meeting is another date to watch for the district. Any decision on late-night rules would be part of the city’s ongoing consideration of Himmarshee’s entertainment-area policies, separate from the fire investigation.
