The fire started in a first-floor unit and quickly spread to others at The Oaks in north Tampa.
By ROB BRANNON
Published December 20, 2003
TAMPA - A predawn fire in a north Tampa apartment complex claimed one woman's life Friday and sent another person to the hospital.
Theresa Babila, 50, died moments after flames engulfed her second-floor apartment, sheriff's deputies reported.
The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. at The Oaks, a small, L-shaped complex at 1914 E 136th Ave. It began in the bottom-floor apartment home of Robert Charles Funk, 51.
Linda Wessells, a resident in the complex, ran outside when she heard a commotion from Funk, who she described as disabled.
"I heard him yelling "fire,' " she said.
Wessells said the fire spread quickly through Funk's apartment. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was treated for second-degree burns. Wessells said she ran down the sidewalk to pull the fire alarm, but it didn't work.
"The handle came off in my hand," she said.
Wessells returned to her apartment and dialed 911.
She said the fire spread quickly upward through the building, made mostly of wood. Babila, who lived upstairs from Funk, was unable to escape. Hillsborough County firefighters extinguished the flames, and no one else was hurt.
The Oaks is owned by Northside Properties, a division of the Northside Mental Health Center on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
Northside officials did not respond to repeated phone calls.
The fire destroyed two apartments and part of the roof directly above. There was also damage in a few other apartments, along with a laundry and vending facility. A large portion of The Oaks was closed off Friday. Some residents were collecting belongings from their damaged apartments.
