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Dog dies in house fire

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TBO.com

Published: April 26, 2009

TAMPA - The family dog perished during a fire this afternoon at a South Seminole Heights home that also caused about $80,000 in damage, authorities say.

Tampa Fire Rescue crews responded to the blaze at 311 W. Genesee St. about 4:20 p.m. and saw smoke and flames coming from the back half of the house. No injuries were reported, but firefighters found the family dog dead inside the house, Capt. Bill Wade said.

The fire was under control in about 25 minutes.

The owner, Vera Reeder, was not home at the time. Reeder, 47, told investigators that she was destroying old documents this morning by placing the papers in a metal container on her back porch and setting them ablaze, Wade said.

Reeder checked on the burning documents several times. When she left home at 11 a.m., she thought the embers had completely burned out, Wade said.

The heat from the smoldering papers kept the metal container hot, though, and eventually set the porch on fire, investigators say.

About 24 firefighters from four different fire stations responded.

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