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Plant City Man Escapes Fire Through Second-Story Window

News Channel 8 photo by RUGENE MOORE

Hillsborough Fire Rescue workers said no one was injured in the house fire.

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By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 29, 2008

PLANT CITY - A predawn fire destroyed a three-unit apartment building outside Plant City, forcing one resident to escape through a second-story window, authorities said.

Emergency units from three agencies in two counties responded to today's 4 a.m. alarm at 800 Sundial Loop, off Paul Buchman Highway, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said.

The two-story building near Sam Allen Road was ablaze when the first Plant City Fire Rescue unit arrived nine minutes after receiving the call, Yeakley said. A dozen Hillsborough County units and two water tankers from Polk County also responded.

Because several live power lines were downed by the fire, it took about an hour to extinguish the flames, Yeakley said.

Only two people were home at the time, and a man in the one upstairs unit received minor scratches on one hand, Yeakley said. "He awoke to the sound of crackling and popping and ended up jumping out the bedroom window," Yeakley said.

The building was a loss, but a dollar figure was not immediately available. The cause is under investigation by the state fire marshal.

The Red Cross is helping find temporary accommodations for the three families.

The names of the victims weren't immediately available.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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