TAMPA, FL. – Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) responded to a report of a fire at Colonial Assisted Living Facility at 11722 North 17th St. at 6:58 am on Tuesday.
The 911 call originated from the facilities alarm company following the activation of an interior fire alarm pull station; resident evacuation began when the fire alarm sounded within the facility.
The engine arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from the roof and called for a full alarm response. A small fire in the attic space above the kitchen appeared to be electrical in nature and was quickly extinguished. The official cause of the fire remains under investigation.
HCFR also responded to a fire at this facility late Saturday night, February 19th. The fire Saturday originated in a resident’s closet and appears accidental; the cause of Saturday’s fire is also still under investigation.
HCFR received multiple fire alarm calls from the same facility over the past two days while the restoration company was conducting operations. HCFR responded at 2:39 am on Tuesday.
There was a single-engine response due to an alarm company report of a trouble alert on the panel. The crew investigated the building with staff, and no evidence of fire was noted. The building was turned over to the staff, and they were instructed to contact the alarm company to reset the panel.
This morning, residents were relocated to alternate facilities dependent on the level of medical care required with assistance from the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management and the State Emergency Response Team.
Public transit busses were used to hold the residents in a climate-controlled area prior to transport. Due to the location of today’s fire over the kitchen, Colonial Assisted Living Facility will be closed until Code Enforcement reviews the repairs and clears the facility to reopen.
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