Fire Destroys Fort Lauderdale Nightclub Backyard

Second-Alarm Response Brings 80 Firefighters

The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday at Backyard, a nightclub located just west of 3rd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Fire officials elevated the response to a second alarm, bringing approximately 80 firefighters to the scene. Crews brought the fire under control in roughly 30 minutes, but the club had already been damaged beyond salvage.

Flames Spread to Neighboring Bar

The blaze grew strong enough to spread to Poorhouse, the bar next door. One patron told CBS News the rush for the exits resembled a stampede. Footage shared on social media showed police officers responding to the scene. One firefighter was injured during the response and received treatment on site, though officials described the injury as minor.

Venue Known for Electronic Music Programming

Backyard has hosted many prominent electronic acts for headline sets, including Lee Foss, SIDEPIECE, Kettama, and Odd Mob. Investigators have opened an inquiry into what ignited the blaze, and the cause remained unknown as of Monday morning.