TAMPA, Fla. – A two-alarm fire ripped through a townhouse duplex in Palma Ceia on Sunday, causing significant damage and displacing residents.
Tampa Fire Rescue responded to the scene on the 3000 block of W. Santiago St. around 11:53 p.m. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames billowing from the rear of the two-story structure.
Crews initially launched an interior attack while searching for occupants. However, due to rapidly worsening conditions, firefighters were pulled back and shifted to a defensive strategy, battling the blaze from the exterior and utilizing aerial ladders.
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The fire spread to an adjacent townhouse, prompting a second alarm for additional resources. Thankfully, both homes were unoccupied at the time.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control within an hour. No injuries were reported to residents or firefighters. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to the displaced families.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by Tampa Fire Rescue investigators.
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