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Fire Damages Home In Plant City

Greg Fight / Tribune photo

Plant City firemen battle a house fire at 707 E. Warren St. shortly after 3 p.m.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2007

Updated: 09/20/2007 05:40 pm

Photos from the scene

PLANT CITY - A fire at a rental home erupted at about 3:11 p.m. today, leaving as many as eight tenants seeking temporary shelter.

A residence at 707 E. Warren St. was badly burned with extensive exterior and interior damage. No one was injured in the blaze that was reported by a patrolling Plant City police officer.

"I called our dispatcher, and they notified the fire department," Officer Mark Holste said.

Operations Fire Chief Gene Shuler said the fire started in the southeast side of the dwelling, listed by in county records as a three-bedroom, one-bath home, but it was too early to determine the cause or extent of the damage.

The home is a rental property with several individual tenants, including Cedrik McKay, his girlfriend Latasha Hargrove and her three daughters, ages 10, 4 and 2.

"The kids are OK, thank God," Hargrove said." I just came home, talking with friends down the street when they told me my house was on fire. I think I lost everything I own."

Tears streamed down her face as she recalled how this was her second recent tragedy with a house fire.

"I was living with my mother two years ago in Vero Beach when an electrical fire destroyed her home," Hargrove said. "And now this."

Holste told Hargrove that the Red Cross was being notified to help the victims who had no place to go find suitable housing.

Tenants renting space in the home included James McEwen, 69, and his son James Jr., 42.

"I was asleep lying across the bed when my son woke me and said the house was on fire. All we could do was run for the front door,'' James McEwen said.

Also in the house when the fire started, but not available for comment, was renter John Eddy and another unnamed tenant.

Flames shot 50 feet into the air when the fire reached its peak at about 3:25 p.m. By 3:45, only smoke remained as the firefighters from Plant City Fire Rescue continued to smother the smoldering home.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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