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Torch blamed for igniting wall stud

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published June 27, 2006

TAMPA - The smoke rushing from apartment windows made 11-year-old Janela Arroyo worried for her friend's teddy bears, dolls and other toys.

No one was seriously hurt in the four-alarm fire that broke out at Newport Square Apartments at 5505 N Himes Ave. Monday about 1:30 p.m.

But eight apartments at 5623 Louis XIV Court and 5622 Napoleon Court were damaged by water or smoke as three dozen firefighters worked for more than an hour to try extinguish a fire that appeared to burn within the walls of the building.

Janela saw the smoke and worried about her neighbor, who is visiting family in Colombia. "Probably, she would cry," Janela said.

Seven families lived in the eight units affected by the fire, Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said.

The fire started after a maintenance crew used a propane torch while doing plumbing work inside a downstairs apartment. Wade said the torch caused a stud in the wall to ignite and start a fire that only became visible by the smoke that started to seep from the walls and vents.

Jackie Murphy, district manager for the apartments formerly known as Ashley Square, said she was working with Red Cross to place displaced residents in apartments owned by the same company.

Hillsborough Fire Rescue assisted Tampa Fire Rescue as high temperatures required firefighters work in shifts to avoid heat exhaustion.

One firefighter received a minor injury while trying to pry open a locked door, Wade said. The fire caused $250,000 in damage.

[Last modified June 26, 2006, 23:38:19]