Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Roof work starts fire, evacuation
By Times Staff Writer
Published July 21, 2005
TAMPA - Workers replacing the roof of the Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa sparked a small fire in the top floor's insulation and wood Wednesday afternoon, prompting Tampa Fire Rescue workers to evacuate the top floors of the building at 101 E Kennedy Blvd.
According to Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Capt. Bill Wade, the smoldering fire started after 1:30 p.m. and pushed light smoke into the building's uppermost floors. While fire crews worked with the roofing crew to put out the fire, rescue workers ordered an evacuation of the 41st and 42nd floors, said district Chief Toby Hart. Employees from some other floors evacuated voluntarily.
Margy Roberts, 40, works for a law firm in the building. She and her co-workers walked down 28 floors to ground level after her manager said the alarms were not part of a drill.
Nick Brown, a 25-year-old financial adviser with Banc of America investments, said he didn't mind the chance to mingle and take a break from work - even if it did mean waiting in the unforgiving heat.
By 3 p.m., the 250 or so workers waiting outside were allowed back into their air-conditioned offices.
[Last modified July 21, 2005, 00:56:18]
Share your thoughts on this story
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor