Flames shot through the roof of the Hideaway bar early Friday

LEALMAN, Fla. - By the time the neighborhood kids were waiting at the bus stop, the Old Hide Away bar on the corner of 37th Street and 51st Avenue North was just a sooty smoldering pile of debris.

 "And I seen flames and everything," said one student.

"I though it was gonna hit my house," said another.

As the first fire crews arrived -- about 2 am -- the place was engulfed. The old tavern which had been abandoned for at least three years burned hot and high.

"Our first responders saw flames through the roof," said Lealman Fire Rescue Captain Larry Thompson. "They immediately called in another alarm, and more than 50 firefighters were on scene within minutes."

And as those crews arrive and began to get the fire under control, a huge plume of smoke belched into the residential neighborhood.

"I mean it took them a few hours to get the fire out," said Lana Firkins, whose house -- right next door to the Hide Away -- suffered a small amount of heat damage. Her step-son's dog had awakened the family in time to get out, but water collecting from next door forced them to stay across the street until the all-clear was sounded.

That's when the investigators -- with their own canines -- moved in, sniffing around the scene for any signs of arson.
It could take days for the investigation on scene to be conducted. A final official report on the cause from the State Fire Marshall's office could take months to complete.