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Quick-Thinking City Workers Help Put Out Motel Fire

News Channel 8 photo by ERIC HAUSMANN

Investigators blame a faulty air conditioning unit for a fire at the Alamo Motel, 6110 Nebraska Avenue in Tampa.

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TBO.com

Published: May 27, 2008

Updated: 05/27/2008 02:28 pm

TAMPA – Investigators say the quick actions of two city workers saved a motel from possibly burning to the ground today.

The fire broke out at the Alamo Motel, 6110 N. Nebraska Ave., just before 10 a.m., Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said. The single-story motel is across the street from Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 7, but it took firefighters eight minutes to respond because personnel were at a supply center in East Tampa, Wade said.

A motel resident, Gregory Shipman, said he flagged down a police officer and a city of Tampa reclaimed water truck that was passing by. Timothy E. Williams and Kendrick T. Atwood were driving a 2,500-gallon tanker to water plants along the city's streets. They used a hose from their tanker truck to knock down the flames until the fire department could arrive.

There were no injuries, and the damage was confined to the one unit, thanks to the men's quick actions, fire Capt. Greg Reed said. The two city workers left before firefighters could thank them.

The burned unit has been occupied by Dennis Robinson, 65, for the past 12 years. Robinson was not in the room when the air-conditioning unit had an electrical short, Wade said.

The damages are estimated at $40,000.

News Channel 8's Eric Hausmann contributed to this report.

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