By Matt Wiley
Keeping combustibles too close to the cooking surface really can cause fires, as one New Tampa man has learned.
According to a report from Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR), at about 1 a.m. on June 5, TFR units responded to a single apartment fire at 10703 Great Falls Ln. inside the Heritage Pines Apartments complex on Cross Creek Blvd. Upon the emergency units’ arrival, the entire building already was being evacuated.
The alarm had sounded and fire sprinklers deployed, helping the 12 TFR units and 29 firefighters contain and control the fire within eight minutes, the report states.
The victim, a 45-year-old man whose name has not yet been released, sustained a burn to his hand and smoke inhalation. The report states that the victim was transported to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), but no other injuries were reported.
Following an investigation, the fire was deemed an accident, caused by combustibles being placed too close to heated cooking utensils. TFR reports that the damage is estimated at about $30,000.
The TFR report also states that two other adult residents of the apartment complex have been displaced by the fire and that the Red Cross is assisting them with temporary housing.
No other information was available at our press time.
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