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Gas Fire Extinguished Near Tampa School, Hospital

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2007

Updated: 09/07/2007 02:36 pm

TAMPA - Tampa Electric said a gas line fire near Kindred Hospital and Trinity School for Children was triggered by a power line that was severed by a tree limb that fell.

"The power line broke off and fell on top of a pipe that led to a gas line underground," Tampa Electric spokesman Rick Morera said. "That's how the gas line was ignited."

An unidentified woman escorts a child to safety.

Flames shot as high as 20 feet just as parents were picking up children from the Trinity school, said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade. It took crews about 90 minutes to extinguish the fire, and no injuries were reported.

"There was never any danger to the school," Morera said.

Tampa Electric said power was knocked out to 1,472 customers in the area around Armenia and Osborne avenues. At 3:15 p.m., 101 customers, including Trinity School and Kindred Hospital, were still without power, Morera said. "We will get those customers back on around 4:30," Morera said.

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