TAMPA, Fla. – Smoke was already visible in the distance as firefighters raced toward Cacciatore Road on Tuesday afternoon. It had been a grueling shift for the crews from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Many of them had just finished putting out a different house fire on Timberline Drive when the call came in for this one.
At 3:44 PM, the dispatch center started getting flooded with 911 calls. People reported heavy flames coming from a home at 6508 Cacciatore Road in the Citrus Park area.
The first engine to turn the corner confirmed it was a serious situation. They could see a column of smoke rising over the neighborhood while they were still driving, prompting them to declare a “working fire” immediately.
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When they arrived, they found a single-wide mobile home engulfed in heavy fire. They pulled hoses and rushed right inside to fight the fire. Other team members stayed outside to hit the flames from the yard.
Thanks to that quick reaction, the fire was under control in just over 15 minutes.
Once the worst of it was over, crews searched the home and the surrounding property to make sure everyone was accounted for.
Luckily, every person inside had made it out safely before help arrived. No residents or firefighters were hurt during the incident. Investigators are now on the scene trying to figure out exactly what sparked the blaze.
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