BRADENTON, Fla. – A structure fire that erupted at 116 53rd Avenue West in Bradenton Saturday afternoon tragically claimed one life and left another individual with significant injuries. Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue units, dispatched at 12:44 PM to reports of a structure fire with possible entrapment, arrived on scene within six minutes to a harrowing sight.
Upon arrival, three Cedar Hammock units found heavy black smoke and active fire engulfing the front of a residence located at the rear of the property. Immediate reports indicated potential entrapment within the burning home.
READ: Clearwater Woman, 72, Disappears From Grove Lane Area Amid Medical Concerns
Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines, initiating an aggressive fire attack and a search and rescue operation. One female patient was discovered outside the residence, having sustained burns to her face and arms. She received immediate medical attention from Manatee County EMS on scene and was subsequently transported to Blake Hospital as a trauma alert.
During the search, a victim was located deceased inside the home. The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.
Fire crews successfully contained the blaze to the building of origin, preventing it from spreading to neighboring properties. The fire was extinguished with no exposures reported.
READ: Florida Becomes First State to Offer Direct Law Enforcement Protection To ICE Officers
The cause of the fire has been determined to be unintentional. Cedar Hammock Fire Prevention is working in conjunction with the Manatee Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations to investigate the incident.
A significant coordinated response was mounted to address the emergency. In addition to Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue, the City of Bradenton and Southern Manatee Fire Rescue provided personnel and equipment as automatic aid.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
