TAMPA, Fla. – Friday morning turned chaotic in Tampa when a fire broke out at a home on North Jamaica Street, quickly spreading to the house next door.
Firefighters got the call around 8:37 a.m. When the first crews pulled up to the 5000 block, they saw heavy smoke and flames pouring out of a single-story house. The fire was intense, and it wasn’t staying put. It was already threatening the buildings nearby.
Because the fire was so big and the houses were close together, fire chiefs immediately called a “second alarm.” This brought in extra trucks and firefighters to help fight the blaze. Despite their efforts, the flames managed to jump to a neighboring home, setting it on fire as well.
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Crews rushed inside both burning houses to search for anyone trapped. They managed to rescue one person, who was quickly handed over to paramedics for a check-up.
But it wasn’t just people who needed saving. Firefighters also managed to carry out several birds and fish from the main house, getting them to safety.
It took about 50 minutes of hard work, but crews eventually got the fire under control.
Officials say that no firefighters were hurt during the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The American Red Cross has stepped in to help the families who lost so much this morning.
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