BELLEAIR BLUFFS - A home that lost power during Hurricane Jeanne suffered extensive fire damage Wednesday night after the power came back on and started the stove.
Neighbors near 833 Tallowood Drive called 911 at 6:45 p.m. after seeing smoke coming from the home. The owner, Terry Smith, had been staying in a hotel until power was restored and was not at the home when the fire started. Firefighters from Largo, Belleair Bluffs, Seminole and Pinellas-Suncoast fire departments responded, with the first unit arriving four minutes after the first 911 call, Largo Division Chief Karry Bell said. Crews found heavy smoke coming from the rear of the home and the eaves. They brought the fire under control in six minutes, Bell said. Fire inspectors traced the cause to the stove. One of the burners may have been nudged on after the power went out. When the power came back on at 6:15 p.m., it possibly set fire to a nearby bag of dog food, Bell said. The fire caused extensive smoke damage to the home and gutted the kitchen. Bell estimated damage at $30,000. Bell said homeowners should shut off power at the breaker whenever they lose electricity to avoid power surges and fires.
