Vacant home is destroyed; fire is labeled suspicious

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 1, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Fire destroyed a double-wide mobile home Thursday night in the Richland community near Zephyrhills.

Assistant Chief Jim Johnston, of the Zephyrhills Fire Department, said the blaze was reported about 9:20 p.m. at 8624 Semmes St.

When they arrived, fire crews found the vacant home ablaze.

It took firefighters from Zephyrhills and neighboring Dade City about 30 minutes to control the fire, and by then the home was a loss, Johnston said.

There were no injuries, he said.

Johnston said the department was having a difficult time determining who lived at the home and who owned it. The fire has been ruled suspicious, and anyone who saw anything unusual around the home Thursday is asked to call Johnston at (813) 782-8184.

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