Fire caused by lamp destroys North Tampa apartment

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 7, 2005

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TAMPA - One apartment was destroyed, and several damaged, following a fire that began late Monday when a resident of the Andover Club Apartments in North Tampa plugged in a lamp.

Faustina Castillo, 27, told investigators the blaze started shortly before 11:30 p.m., when she plugged a lamp into a bedroom outlet. Sparks ignited her bedding.

When fire rescue workers arrived at 11:30 p.m. at the apartments, 4824 E Busch Blvd., they could see smoke and flames shooting out of the upstairs apartment. The crew called for help, and Tampa police officers evacuated all of Andover's residents.

Firefighters on two ladder trucks and five engines brought the fire under control within half an hour and managed to keep the worst damage to Castillo's apartment. Still, several units suffered smoke and water damage, according to a fire rescue report.

The apartments' management is working to temporarily house displaced residents in vacant apartments within the complex, fire rescue officials said.