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Couple Escape Grease Fire In House

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By GEOFF FOX

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 23, 2008

DARBY - Fire badly damaged a two-story house here Thursday afternoon, but no one was seriously injured.
Julie Davis was sleeping downstairs at 27424 Karefree Lane when her boyfriend, Don Collins, burst into the house, telling her it was on fire.

He was able to rescue a dog and one cat, but another cat died in the blaze.

Collins was taken to East Pasco Medical Center in Dade City for smoke inhalation.

Davis, who rents the downstairs portion of the house, said owner Fred Viebranz was away for the afternoon.

"He's going to have a hell of a surprise when he gets back," she said.

Pasco Fire Marshal Larry Whitten said a grease fire started the blaze.

"There was a pan on the stove with cooking grease in it," he said. "It was on the back burner; then they went to put a pot of water on the front burner.

"They turned on the wrong burner."

The American Red Cross will provide the victims with clothing and shelter, Whitten said.

Seven fire trucks responded to the wood-framed house in the cul-de-sac neighborhood off Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, several miles north of State Road 52. Firefighters were dispatched at 12:08 p.m. and had the blaze under control by 1:05 p.m., according to Pasco Fire Rescue.

"The whole back of the house is gone," said Davis' former brother-in-law, Dalen-Bear Davis.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or gfox@tampatrib.com.

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