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ALEX LEARY and SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADANo one is seriously injured, though the owner of the home where the fire started was treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation. His dog was killed.
NORTH REDINGTON BEACH - An unattended candle ignited a fire that swept through six townhomes late Monday, killing a dog, injuring a man and causing an estimated $2.5-million in damage, officials said.
Jeffrey Tarr fell asleep in his chair Monday night, later awaking to intense heat, thick smoke and a raging fire started by a candle he left burning on his coffee table.
He and the other residents of a six-unit, three-story townhome complex at 196 171st Ave. N managed to escape relatively unharmed, but Tarr's dog and four of the six townhomes did not.
Firefighters and equipment from six cities responded to the blaze that, today, is a charred building that once was worth nearly $3-million.
Tarr, 46, told firefighters he discovered the fire and fled his home through a back patio door. The door was left open, fueling the fire with oxygen and providing a way for it to spread to other units, said Seminole Fire Rescue spokeswoman Alison McCarty.
The fire spread quickly through the four center units, which appear to be totally destroyed, according to McCarty.
Smoke from the fire was spotted by a neighbor who called 911 at 10:31 p.m. Monday.
Seminole firefighters were on the scene five minutes later, and were quickly joined by units from Madeira Beach, the Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue Department, Largo, Lealman and St. Petersburg.
"The flames were shooting out the patio door and climbing to the floor above," McCarty said.
The fire scene quickly became crowded with firetrucks, rescue vehicles with more than 60 firefighters and an estimated 50 onlookers."We were using a ton of hose lines and multiple fire hydrants," said McCarty. "It was quite a large fire and really taxed the water system. We called Pinellas County Utilities to ramp up the water pressure."
It took less than a half-hour to put out the fire.
Three of the homes were occupied at the time, officials said.
McCarty said the patio door left open by Tarr as he ran out of the building allowed oxygen to feed the fire, which spread quickly to adjacent units through a shared attic space.
Tuesday, contractors were boarding up the townhomes and insurance investigators were at the scene. Pinellas County building inspectors were scheduled to examine the townhome complex today to determine whether to condemn any of the units.
Sheriff's Office spokesman Mac McMullen said a routine arson investigation indicates there was no "suspicious" activity involved with the fire.
Only one of the six units was unoccupied. Tarr was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation and released. The other residents escaped unharmed.
The Red Cross also was at the scene to offer assistance in relocating the townhome residents, but according to McCarty they all found places to stay with friends and relatives.
Tarr's dog was locked in a kennel inside Tarr's home and died in the fire.
Seminole Fire Marshal Ed Mullins said that if the building, which was constructed in the 1980s, had had a sprinkler system as is now required by building codes, the fire would not have spread and the damage would have been minimal.
"This shows the important of sprinkler systems," said McCarty.
She also stressed the danger of burning candles in homes.
"They are very trendy now, but people must be careful. We are seeing more fires started by unattended candles. People forget them or fall asleep. Pets and curious children can knock them over," she said.