Fire engulfs St. Pete garage apartment

 

St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Firefighter Chris Spafford, left, didn't realize his helmet shield was melting as he and Acting Lt. Jason Francis, with the normal face shield, checked out the burning garage apartment because the smoke and darkness made visibility zero. But just 6 feet in the door, Francis knew it was dangerously hot because his ears were burning, he said. That's when he radioed to Acting District Chief Robert Bassett outside that "it was way too hot and conditions were deteriorating." After his firemen determined the house was unoccupied, Acting District Chief Robert Bassett pulled firefighters out and "changed operations to a safer aggressive defensive attack," according to a SPFR release. [Cherie Diez, Times]

ST. PETERSBURG -- Fifteen fire department units responded to a garage apartment fire at 936 19th Ave. S at 9:03 a.m. and extinguished the blaze in 27 minutes. There were no injuries reported.

Fire rescue workers found the two-story, wood frame, 600-square-foot garage apartment with heavy smoke and fire showing from the windows upon arrival.

After his firemen determined the house was unoccupied, Acting District Chief Robert Bassett pulled firefighters out and "changed operations to a safer aggressive defensive attack," according to a SPFR release.

Damage estimates were placed at $50,000 according to SPFR. A fire investigator is on scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

Emily Nipps and Brant James, Times Staff Writers

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 [photos by Lt. Joel S. Granata, St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue]

Comments

[Truth Squad]

Emily, 19th Avenue South is 12 blocks South of Bayfront Medical Center. The headline to this story is very misleading or the address is incorrect in the story.

[Ripper]

I have to agree the hospital is at 701 6th Street South, not to say you have the Roser Park area in between which is a hilly area. To me, its not as close as this articles portrays it to be.

[PCN]

The correct title is SPFR St.Petersburg Fire Rescue, not SPFD.