Cooking Fires Force Tampa Families From Homes

TAMPA, FL — Overcooked family dinners are to blame for fires that drove two Tampa families from their homes Thursday night.

At 7:30 p.m., Hillsborough County Fire Rescue was called to the 3700 block of Ambermist Drive after a fire broke out while the resident was frying food.

When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting from the front of the house and had spread through the attic.

The elderly man who lived in the house was taken to a trauma facility to be treated for first- and second-degree burns.

The house was a total loss, but the fire didn't spread to neighboring homes.

Tampa Fire Rescue were then called at 8:25 p.m. to a fire at a two-story apartment building in the 8000 block of North 39th Street in Temple Crest. When they arrived, heavy smoke and flames were coming from the apartment.

However, the residents were all able to get out of the apartment without any injuries.

Tampa's fire investigator determined the cause of the fire to be unattended cooking in the kitchen.

The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family in finding a place to stay.