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Neighbors rescue 3 kids from fireBy ANGELA MOORE © St. Petersburg Times, published August 17, 2000 TEMPLE TERRACE -- Amelia Spruill couldn't afford to pay her power bill, nor could she afford a babysitter. So when the 32-year-old single mother of three left her apartment at Terrace Palms Apartments to work the night shift at the McDonald's restaurant a few blocks away Tuesday night, she left her children at home by themselves. The two girls, ages 10 and 11, and the boy, age 7, had to light candles once it got dark because Tampa Electric had shut off the power, because Spruill hadn't paid the bill. About 10:30 p.m., a candle fell over and ignited the couch. As the fire spread near the front door, the children went out on a second-floor balcony and yelled for help. Across the parking lot from Spruill's building, two men saw the smoke. Lynn Williams stepped out of his apartment about the same time as his neighbor, John Hall. Hall and Williams grabbed the fire extinguisher and ran toward the flames. As Hall knocked on the doors of the three other apartments in Spruill's building, Williams stood underneath the balcony and tried to persuade the frightened children to jump into his arms. "Yeah, they were scared," Williams said. "I was, too. But they had to jump. They couldn't get out through the door because of the fire." Thanks to Hall and Williams, the children weren't injured. Hall was burned slightly on the back by debris that fell on him. The apartment and the family's belongings were destroyed. Damage is estimated at $30,000. Spruill and her children could not be reached. Police said she and her children were staying with a grandmother Tuesday night. Under the law, Spruill could face felony charges of child neglect. But Temple Terrace police chose not to arrest her Tuesday night, instead referring the case to the State Attorney's Office for review. "They may charge her, they may not," said Temple Terrace police Capt. Tracy Mishler. "She wasn't there because she was working to pay bills, not because she was just out. Hopefully, she'll be able to find child care in the future."
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