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2nd Blaze In 2 Weeks Strikes House

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY and JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

TAMPA - DeAndra James returned Tuesday to the rental house where she and her five children lived before it was damaged by fire last week.

It was ablaze again.

Investigators determined late Tuesday that the fire at 2007 E. North Bay St. was arson, Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said.

James, 32, watched the fire as she drove up.

'I went to call the fire department, but a neighbor had already called,' James said. 'I was there to get paperwork for another home, an apartment. I can't believe it. We are homeless.'
Firefighters arrived at 2:33 p.m. and had the blaze under control within 20 minutes, Wade said.

The house was vacant, unsecured and had no electricity. No injuries were reported.

On Oct. 24, the five youngsters, ages 7 to 16, escaped unharmed after a fire started in a bedroom, Tampa Fire Rescue said. Firefighters were at the house just before 7 p.m., and the fire was extinguished in 20 minutes.

An electrical problem with a television appeared to have started the fire, an investigator with the Tampa fire marshal's office said at the time. The damage was estimated at $80,000 last week.

The family was given temporary shelter by the American Red Cross.

On Tuesday, James said flames were shooting out of her bedroom. She said investigators considered arson because the electricity had been shut off.

Efforts to reach Francisco Acevedo, the property owner, were unsuccessful.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone who may have information is asked to call the Tampa fire marshal's office at (813) 274-7000 to talk to the investigator on duty.

Reporter Chris Echegaray can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or cechegaray@tampatrib.com. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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