Candle possible cause of apartment fire

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 26, 2000

TAMPA -- A slow-burning candle is believed to have started a two-alarm fire early Sunday that consumed an apartment occupied by two military officers, authorities said.

Firefighters arrived at the Horizon Place Apartments, 3350 W Hillsborough Ave., shortly after 7 a.m. to find heavy smoke coming from a second-story apartment. The fire was under control by 7:33 a.m., but it destroyed the apartment and its contents, approximately $75,000 in damage.

Investigators said three other apartments in the 16-unit building incurred minor smoke and water damage, but they expected them to be occupied again by the end of the day.

Tad Slatter, 24, was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was treated for second- and third-degree burns to his arms, abdomen and legs. He was later released.

Smoke alarms in the apartment did not work, Slatter said.

Woman's body found in waters off Clearwater

CLEARWATER -- Police are trying to identify the body of a woman found floating Sunday morning in the Intracoastal Waterway near the Memorial Causeway in Clearwater. Boaters called Clearwater police at 8:06 a.m. to report finding the woman, who was wearing a dress but no shoes. Clearwater police said the woman has dark skin and is thought to be in her mid-50s. Wayne Shelor, a spokesman for the Clearwater Police Department, said the Pasco-Pinellas medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy. Clearwater detectives discovered no obvious signs of trauma or criminal activity on the body. "At this point, it is a suspicious death," Shelor said. "We do not know what we have found."

Police say man shot in park killed himself

PINELLAS PARK -- A 39-year-old man shot himself in the head at 11:11 p.m. Saturday at the Sparkle Lake Park in Pinellas Park, police said.

Michael B. Kerr of 4501 84th Ave. N, No. 603, was found on a park bench near the playground. Kerr suffered a single gunshot wound to the right side of his forehead. Two suicide notes were found -- one on his body and one at his home. Police responded to the park after someone reported hearing a shot.

Motorcycle dealership is damaged by fire

ST. PETERSBURG -- A fire possibly caused by lightning heavily damaged the main building of a St. Petersburg motorcycle dealership that also has offices in Brooksville and Brandon. The fire started about 7:30 p.m. at Barney's Motorcycle Sales, 10411 Gandy Blvd. N. The store, which sells and services motorcycles and personal watercraft, was closed for the day. Firefighters were still fighting the flames late Sunday, and damage estimates were not available. The store was insured. No injuries were reported, but one firefighter had to be taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion.

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