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Blaze displaces 21 families

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TBO.com

Published: April 27, 2009

TAMPA - Faulty wiring sparked a three-alarm blaze at an Armenia Avenue apartment complex that displaced 21 families Sunday afternoon.

The fire spread from the porch of apartment No. 901 and up the exterior side of a building, Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said. Three apartments were heavily damaged and three others had smoke and water damage.

Power was shut off to 24 units and damage was estimated at about $250,000, Wade said.
Fire crews responding to The Falls apartments, 4610 N. Armenia Ave., at 2 p.m. saw black smoke billowing from the three-story building. The fire was under control in about an hour.

One firefighter, Capt. Jimmie Thomas, was injured as he pulled sections of a ceiling down to access an attic on the third floor, Wade said. The ceiling collapsed and knocked Thomas down, but the captain managed to get out of the building, Wade said.

Thomas was checked by paramedics and treated at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Some of the displaced families have found temporary shelter with relatives, while others are being helped by the American Red Cross. Apartment managers are trying to find vacant units for several displaced families, Wade said.

A staff report

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