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Charred Building Greets Medical Practice Workers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 29, 2007

TAMPA - Workers looked with shock at the charred ruins of Richard N. Long's medical practice early Wednesday morning, hours after a fire gutted the longtime gynecologist's office.
Firefighters were dispatched to 2942 W. Columbus Drive, West Tampa, at 11:39 p.m. Tuesday. It took crews about 20 minutes to bring the flames under control, but not before fire and smoke damaged several businesses, including another physician's practice, at the two-story building.

Investigators determined the fire started in Long's offices in Suite 109, but have not yet determined a cause.

Suzanne Rowles, Long's office manager for the past two years, surveyed the office's charred walls and contents and snapped photos of the damage. Some of Long's employees couldn't be notified before showing up for work in their medical scrubs.

By afternoon, the building had been boarded up, and "KEEP OUT" spray-painted on the entrance to Long's practice.

Damage to the building was estimated at $300,000.

A staff report

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