Tampa Home Saved By Cautious Hillsborough Battalion Chief

TAMPA, FL — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue stopped a fire in the attic of a home at 4507 Knollwood St. in Tampa from spreading through the rest of the house Thursday morning.

Firefighters received a call at 7:39 a.m. from a neighbor reporting smoke coming from the home next door. Shortly after, the caller told dispatchers the fire was out. However, Battalion Chief 5 heard the transmission and overruled the cancellation, instructing the engine to continue to the scene.

Once on the scene, Engine 10 crews found the attic filled with smoke and actively on fire. They quickly pulled a handline and extinguished the fire, preventing its spread throughout the house.

Additional units arrived and assisted with fire suppression while conducting primary and secondary searches of the home. There were no occupants inside the home at the time of the fire.

The investigations unit determined the cause to be an unattended tea light candle.