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Tampa, Hillsborough Firefighters Battle Separate Blazes

Tribune photo by KATHY MOORE

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue rushed to extinguish a fire at a mobile home in Michigan Park located at 12420 N. Florida Avenue, about 4:30 a.m. The home was occupied, but no injuries were reported, Hillsborough Fire Rescue said. It took firefighters about 15 minutes to get the fire under control.

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TBO.com

Published: December 26, 2008

Updated: 12/26/2008 10:56 am

TAMPA - Firefighters from two agencies battled blazes at separate locations this morning in Hillsborough County. In both instances there was extensive damage but no injury.

Tampa Fire Rescue firefighters responded to a 6:12 a.m. blaze at a public housing complex at 1236 W. Chestnut St. and found smoke and flames coming from a second-floor window.

Firefighters entered the apartment to ensure no one was inside and brought the flames under control in about 15 minutes, they said.

Investigators said the occupant of the apartment, Marquita Sheppard, 25, was home alone and asleep when smoke woke her. She was not harmed, firefighters said, and will stay with relatives.

She told investigators she has no electricity and was using candles for light. Investigators say she fell asleep with a candle burning and that's what caused the fire.

A smoke alarm in the apartment had no batteries, firefighters said.

The cause was listed as accidental, and authorities gave a damage estimate of $25,000.

Firefighters said there are six other apartments in the building and none had fire or smoke damage.

Four engines, including a ladder truck, and 24 firefighters and paramedics responded to the alarm

Two hours earlier, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue extinguished flames at a North Tampa mobile home park. The fire gutted the home, but the two occupants and a pet were not harmed.

Dispatchers said the alarm came in at 4:21 a.m. The names of the occupants were not immediately available.

Dispatchers said eight firefighting units responded to the alarm at the Michigan Park mobile home park, 12420 N. Florida Ave., near Fletcher Avenue.

No other homes were seriously damaged, dispatchers said.

It took firefighters about 15 minutes to get the fire under control.

Investigators were trying to determine the fire's cause.

No damage estimate was available.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

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