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Tampa Neighborhood Rallies Around Fire Victims

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 24, 2007

TAMPA - The homeowners association of the neighborhood where a house burned down on Sunday morning is taking donations to help the family.

About 7 a.m. Sunday, fire swept through the Citrus Park home of Joseph and Bonnie Wakefield, engulfing the house where the family lived the past 13 years.

Hillsborough County fire officials think the fire started near an artificial Christmas tree.

No one was seriously injured, but the Wakefields were taken to a hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

Among those who want to help is Kathy Muggleworth of Westchase, who heard of the family's plight on the news.

The family's reaction, not complaining about the fire, but gratitude about small items they could recover, touched Muggleworth.

"I was especially moved by the family. They were so thankful some of their photos were not destroyed," Muggleworth said. "We can't do a lot but would like to do something."

The couple received some aid from the American Red Cross on Sunday.

Mandarin Lakes Homeowners Association, (813) 601-6989, is taking donations for the family.

The family told the fire department that a breaker tripped when the artificial Christmas tree was plugged in. The tree was on fire when Joseph Wakefield returned to the living room after resetting the breaker.

His 16-year-old granddaughter, staying at the home with a friend, were alerted by a smoke alarm and escaped through a bedroom window. The handle on the bedroom door was too hot to open.

About eight units and 24 firefighters responded to the fire at 5825 Bitter Orange Ave.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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